Delaware moves quickly to legalize recreational cannabis

The state of Delaware will soon legalize the production and sale of recreational cannabis. Visit House Bill 110 should enable this small East Coast state to join a growing circle in the USA.

Delaware Marijuana Control Act

Cannabis possession was already decriminalized in Delaware since June 2015, yet its use remained illegal. Medical cannabis is also already legal in the state. To regulate cannabis, the senators are focusing first and foremost on the tax aspect. Each ounce of weed sold will be taxed at a flat rate of 50$. The Department of Education will receive 20 % of these taxes, 30% will be distributed to the Department of Health for cannabis prevention. Details of the remaining 50% are not provided, but a portion will go to the Delaware Cannabis Regulatory Agency.

To open a recreational cannabis dispensary, entrepreneurs will have to pay 5000$ to obtain a sales license, renewable every two years for 10,000$. However, this proposed law only authorizes 40 dispensaries. Nothing is said about the selection criteria for the lucky entrepreneurs.

Senator Margaret Rose says «There are very few winners in the «War on Drugs», but an awful lot of losers. We've spent a lot of time and money arresting and prosecuting low-level offenders, especially in cannabis cases. This prohibition has pushed our prison population to dangerous levels. It has destroyed thousands of lives, and perpetuated unacceptable racial disparities in our justice system.»

According to Hélène Keeley quoted by the Delaware Online  »This proposed legislation creates an entirely new industry in our state. Plus, we'd be taking advantage of our geographic location to bring in tourists. We would be the only state within a 7-hour drive that has legalized cannabis». «I think society has changed, a lot of people understand that at the end of the day a person can have a glass of wine and smoke a joint.»

A little setback

The main problem lies at the highest level of government. Governor John Carney is absolutely against the legalization of cannabis. He has even been quoted as saying that he would veto the bill. However, Delaware Online suggests that it is looking closely at what is happening in states that have moved away from prohibition.

House Bill 110 must now go to the Senate, but no date has yet been set.

Théo Caillart