Delaware Poised to Legalize Marijuana Following Governor’s Announcement

April 22, 2023 · Green Market Report

Delaware is about to become the 22nd state to have fully legalized recreational marijuana, after Gov. John Carney announced Friday that he won’t veto legalization bills as he has in the past, potentially avoiding an embarrassing veto override by the legislature.

“I want to be clear that my views on this issue have not changed,” Carney said in a press release. “And I understand there are those who share my views who will be disappointed in my decision not to veto this legislation.

“I came to this decision because I believe we’ve spent far too much time focused on this issue, when Delawareans face more serious and pressing concerns every day. It’s time to move on,” he said.

The pair of bills – House Bills 1 and 2 – legalize personal possession of up to an ounce of cannabis for those 21 and older, and also set up a framework for a regulated adult-use market. Within 16 months, state authorities will award 30 new retail permits, Delaware Online reported.

The news outlet reported that the prime sponsor of both bills, state Rep. Ed Osienski, had said he was confident he had the support in both chambers to override a veto if Carney torpedoed the measures, which is what he did in 2022.

Karen O’Keefe, director of state policies for the Marijuana Policy Project, celebrated the news in a post on LinkedIn, and wrote that it’s “HUGE NEWS.”

“This was a multi-year effort with plenty of speed bumps,” O’Keefe wrote. (Full Story)

In category:Legalization
Tags:
Next Post

We Were Duped? - Louisiana Legislators Legalized Hemp, Had No Idea That Included Some THC Products as Well

During an April 18 Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, Louisiana State Senators Jay Morris and Stewart Cathey remarked that legalizing hemp products containing THC was not deliberate. According to The Daily Advertiser, during the meeting, Cathey stated that in the previous…
Read
Previous Post

Poll: South Dakota Voters Split on Cannabis Legalization

A new poll released Monday by the School of American and Global Studies at South Dakota State University suggests that South Dakota voters are open to legalizing cannabis for adult use despite rejecting the reforms last year.   In 2020, voters had approved…
Read
Random Post

Hawaii Senators Discuss New Marijuana Legalization Bill In Committee, With Plans For Vote Later This Week

A Hawaii Senate committee on Tuesday held a hearing on a bill to legalize marijuana—with multiple state agencies weighing in on the proposal in testimony. The legislation from Sen. Joy San Buenaventura (D) was discussed in the Senate Judiciary Committee.…
Read
Random Post

Maryland Opens Applications For Marijuana Business Grants As Regulators Issue New Industry Guidance

Maryland officials are now accepting applications for grants to help existing medical marijuana businesses convert into dual licensees that can serve the adult-use market when legalization takes effect next month. Also, as regulators publish new guidance for the industry, the…
Read
Random Post

County’s first cannabis lounge is coming to National City

The county’s first licensed cannabis lounge, and the only one south of Los Angeles, will open next year near the waterfront in National City. Pearl and Alex Ayon won unanimous approval Tuesday from the City Council to operate Sessions by…
Read
Random Post

Alabama’s Plan to Void and Reissue Medical Cannabis Licenses Attracts Another Lawsuit

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) is set to, again, void and revoke the licenses it awarded two weeks ago with plans to re-award them during the same meeting without going into an executive session, according to a court filing outlined by…
Read