Hartford (AP) — Advocates of Connecticut's new medical marijuana law say a new business alliance of medical marijuana entrepreneurs could help educate patients, doctors and the public about the drug and combat the stigma of pot.

About a dozen people, including some state Capitol lobbyists, turned out on Tuesday for an organizational meeting of the proposed Connecticut Medical Cannabis Business Alliance.

Erik Williams, executive director of Connecticut NORML, which pushed for legalizing medical marijuana in the state, led the meeting. Williams wants to gauge whether there's interest in starting a business alliance that would be modeled after a similar group in Colorado.

So far, only 43 patients have applied for temporary registration certificates, but Williams said he expects that number will climb once the program is fully up and running later next year.