Delaware Senate passes marijuana legalization

With a 13-7 vote Thursday, the Delaware Senate passed a simplified bill legalizing marijuana possession, which sent the legislation to face its final hurdle–receiving a signature from Gov. John Carney.

It was the fifth time in state history and the second time this year lawmakers put forth legislation regarding the legalization of cannabis, but while Rep. Ed Osienski’s earlier effort this year was shot down while trying to do too much, he broke the major themes out into their own bills.

Instead of trying to legalize marijuana and establish an infrastructure plan for the plant’s growth and sale here in Delaware–including focuses on social equity efforts–Osienski separated those ideas to give each a better chance of survival on their own merits.

On Thursday, House Bill 371, which removes all penalties for adult recreational possession of an ounce or less of marijuana, passed its second chamber.

“This legislation is long overdue,” said Sen. Trey Paradee (D-Dover), the bill’s primary Senate sponsor. “The majority of Delawareans want this, and it’s the right thing to do.”

The bill was not, of course, without its detractors, and concerns were expressed–occasionally dramatically–from both sides of the aisle, as even Sen. Kyle Evans Gay (D-Brandywine Hundred) noted she would be remiss if she did not raise the issues her own constituents held with the lack of regulatory oversight in HB371. [Read More @ WDEL.com]