Delaware lawmakers approved a bill to legalize marijuana on Wednesday, advancing the reform in committee just one day after a complementary measure to establish basic regulations for an adult-use market cleared a different panel.
The House Health & Human Development Committee passed the simple legalization bill, which was introduced earlier this month, in a 11-4 vote. Meanwhile, the companion regulatory proposal moved through the House Revenue & Finance Committee on Tuesday.
Rep. Ed Osienski (D) is sponsoring both pieces of legislation. He took a similar, bifurcated approach for the reform last session and saw the legislature pass the basic legalization proposal while narrowly defeating the regulatory measure. Gov. John Carney (D) vetoed the former legislation, and the House didn’t have to votes for an override.
“This bill ends over 50 years of prohibition and criminalization in Delaware and allows adults over the age of 21 to legally possess, consume and freely share under one ounce of marijuana for personal use,” Osienski said during Wednesday’s hearing.
The lawmaker said his legislation is expected to potentially come up for a House floor vote in March.
Here’s what the HB 1 legalization bill would accomplish:
State statute would be revised to legalize the possession, use, sharing and
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