Delaware is just waiting for its governor to legalize cannabis

The Senate of the U.S. state of Delaware on Tuesday approved two bills to legalize cannabis possession and regulate its sale for adults, and sent them to the governor.

The legalization proposal was approved by 16 votes to 4, while the regulation measure passed by 15 votes to 5. Both texts, which pass through Senate committees before being put to the vote, are sponsored by Democratic Congressman Ed Osienski.

«The legalization of recreational cannabis for adult use is inevitable because it corresponds to the will of the people,» said Democratic Senator Trey Paradee, who is carrying the bill in the Senate, before the vote.

«60% of Delawareans think recreational cannabis use should be legalized. This percentage will certainly increase rapidly in the coming years,» he said. «The older generation that has been fed the lies and propaganda of Reefer Madness is beginning to understand what the younger generation already knows: marijuana, by any measure, is far less harmful than alcohol, is not addictive like caffeine and nicotine, and does not have the harmful side effects and astronomical health-related costs and consequences of tobacco and nicotine products.».

Congressman Ed Osienski recently stated that if the Governor seeks to veto the legislation again, as he did in 2022, This time, he's «optimistic» and believes «he has the votes to get past it».

Outline of legalization in Delaware

Here's what the 2 cannabis legalization bills in Delaware would accomplish:

• the possession, consumption, sharing and purchase of a ounce of cannabis (28 grams) for adults aged 21 and over would be authorized
• Public consumption and cultivation of cannabis would remain prohibited
• The Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement (DATE) would be responsible for regulating the market through a new Office of the Commissioner of Marijuana Control
• In the first 16 months of implementation, regulators could approve up to 30 cannabis retail licenses
• 7% of cannabis revenues would go to a «Justice Reinvestment Fund» that would support restorative justice, workforce development, technical assistance for the economically disadvantaged...
• Legislation does not provide for automatic expungement of criminal records for past cannabis offences
• In addition to traditional retail, cultivation, manufacturing and laboratory licenses, the bill also provides for social equity and micro-enterprise licenses (reserved for applicants majority-owned by Delaware residents).
• Localities may prohibit cannabis businesses from operating on their territory
• Sales of cannabis for adult use would be subject to a sales tax of 15 %. Medical cannabis products would not be taxed.