Marijuana Legalization Bills Pass the Delaware Senate, Head to the Reefer-Madness Governor{For the 2ND Time]

SB85

Well-Known Member
The Delaware Senate voted Tuesday in favor of both HB1 and HB2, two bills that would pave the way for legalized marijuana use for adults in Delaware. HB1 would allow for adults to possess up to one ounce of cannabis. HB2 would establish the regulatory framework for sales of cannabis.


Both bills previously passed the Delaware House of Representatives. Now that they’ve cleared the Senate, they will go to Governor John Carney’s desk for his signature. Carney became the first Democratic Governor to veto legal cannabis legalization in 2022, with the House of Representatives unable to override his veto. It is not yet clear if he will make a similar decision this time. Both chambers of the legislature boast a majority that could allow an override if he does, however. In a statement released just after the Senate vote, Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long said, “I have been a longtime advocate for legalizing marijuana in Delaware and as a member of the General Assembly, I voted for both medical and de-criminalization legislation. Moving forward, we need to avoid mistakes made in other states and regulate marijuana properly to keep it out of the hands of our children, to ensure product and workplace safety and to also ensure fairness for businesses and for the medical use of marijuana.”


Marijuana Legalization Bills Pass the Delaware Senate, Head to the Governor | Latest News | wboc.com
 

SB85

Well-Known Member
Let's see if the state legislature will have the balls to override their reefer-madness governor if he decides to veto legalization again.
 

cacamal

Well-Known Member
Did the decriminalization bill go forward last time and the full legalization fail? Just curious
 

SB85

Well-Known Member
Did the decriminalization bill go forward last time and the full legalization fail? Just curious


In December 2015, Delaware’s bill to decriminalize cannabis possession took effect. HB 39, which passed the General Assembly and was signed into law by then-Governor Jack Markell, made possession of up to one ounce of cannabis by adults a civil violation punishable by a $100 fine with no possibility of jail. Possession of up to an ounce of cannabis was previously a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $575 fine and up to three months in jail. Please see our summary of HB 39 for further details.

On July 31, 2019, Gov. Carney signed SB 45 into law, which expanded the decriminalization to those under 21 years old.


Delaware (mpp.org)
 

cacamal

Well-Known Member
Very interesting! Do you think the current Gov is waiting for a payday like the politicians did in many states like FL? Please keep us posted as this moves along.
 

SB85

Well-Known Member
Very interesting! Do you think the current Gov is waiting for a payday like the politicians did in many states like FL? Please keep us posted as this moves along.

I wouldn't doubt that dude is waiting for some $$$ to change his mind on the matter like many politicians have done. I'll keep this thread updated.
 

SB85

Well-Known Member
little update

Advocates are closely watching to see if Gov. John Carney (D) will again exercise his veto authority to quash cannabis legalization, as he did last year.

Asked on Wednesday whether he could give a “hint” about his current thinking about the reform measures that the Senate passed on Tuesday, Carney said, “No, I’d rather focus on” his administration’s efforts to improve roadway safety.

“Obviously I’m concerned mostly about unintended consequences of legalization, including highway safety,” the governor told NBC Philadelphia.

Delaware Governor Dodges Question About Vetoing Marijuana Legalization Bills - Marijuana Moment
 

thumper60

Well-Known Member
In December 2015, Delaware’s bill to decriminalize cannabis possession took effect. HB 39, which passed the General Assembly and was signed into law by then-Governor Jack Markell, made possession of up to one ounce of cannabis by adults a civil violation punishable by a $100 fine with no possibility of jail. Possession of up to an ounce of cannabis was previously a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $575 fine and up to three months in jail. Please see our summary of HB 39 for further details.

On July 31, 2019, Gov. Carney signed SB 45 into law, which expanded the decriminalization to those under 21 years old.


Delaware (mpp.org)
Dam I feel ya pain we passed that bill in maine in 1976 good luck!
 

SB85

Well-Known Member
Another update

At a town hall event, Gov. John Carney (D) faced several questions about marijuana policy issues, and he declined to say whether he would veto the legalization legislation like he did with an earlier bill last session. But he also suggested that he views the reform as inevitable and said that it’s “time to move on” from the conversation to focus on other priorities.

“I don’t support it,” he said. “And the last time they were sent to my desk…I vetoed it because I just don’t think it’s good, mostly for young people, and I don’t think it’s good for our competitiveness,” the governor said.

He also dismissed polling that shows majority support for legalization, while adding that he doesn’t “make my decisions based on poll numbers.”

On their own, the initial comments left an impression that he’s inclined to veto the legislation again. But Carney went on to say that “ultimately, I think the reality is we’ll have some enterprise here—when is the question.”

“I think we just work with all states to do it, right? We don’t know about impaired driving. We don’t have a test like you do with alcohol,” he said. “There’s lots of different issues we don’t—we’re not sure. It wouldn’t be allowed for children, but children would get their hands on it.”

Carney similarly expressed concern about impaired driving implications shortly after the legislature delivered the bills to his desk, and a spokesperson separately told Marijuana Moment that the governor “continues to have strong concerns about the unintended consequences of legalizing marijuana for recreational use in our state, especially about the impacts on our young people and highway safety.

Still, Carney said on Tuesday that most people share the perspective that cannabis “ought to be regulated in a tighter way, for want of a better term,” and “wherever we end up, that ought to be the goal.”

The governor again indicated that he seems to regard legalization as inevitable, saying that with “different priorities” like addressing opioid overdoses still confronting the state, “we’ve spent, in my view, too much time” addressing on marijuana reform.

“It’s time to move on to the next set of challenges, and that’s about where we are,” he said.

Delaware Governor Sends Mixed Signals Marijuana Legalization Bills, Saying It's 'Time To Move On' From Debating Issue - Marijuana Moment
 
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