Delaware House Committees Approve Complementary Marijuana Legalization And Regulations Bills
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A pair of complementary bills to legalize marijuana and set up regulations for cannabis commerce in Delaware were approved in separate House committees on Wednesday. Rep. Ed Osienski (D), sponsor of both measures, previously tried to pass a comprehensive bill that would have accomplished both goals at once, but it failed to receive the required three-fifths supermajority vote on the floor last month. Rather than throw in the towel, the lawmaker devised a two-track approach to reform by introducing one basic legalization bill that would allow adults 21 and older to possess and share up to an ounce of cannabis and another that lays out a specific regulatory framework for an adult-use market. The former bill would only require a simple majority to pass, and so if that measure is enacted, the thinking is that it would put “extra pressure” on lawmakers to advance the complementary legislation with a supermajority, rather than have legalization without regulations in place, Osienski said earlier this month. So far, things are going according to plan. The simple legalization bill, HB 371, passed the House Health & Human Development Committee. Hours later, the regulations measure, HB 372, was approved by the House Revenue & Finance Committee. At the latter hearing, Osienski detailed the provisions of HB 372, saying the legislation “creates the legal framework to license and regulate a new industry that will create well-paying jobs for Delawareans while striking a blow against the criminal element, which currently profits from the thriving illicit market in our state.” At the earlier hearing, the sponsor briefly described the simple legalization bill, acknowledging that his previous measure “unfortunately fell short” on the House floor. Notably, House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf (D), who was the sole Democrat in the House who voted against the earlier legalization bill, signaled that he…

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Source : Delaware House Committees Approve Complementary Marijuana Legalization And Regulations Bills

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