Delaware House Upholds Governor's Veto on Cannabis Decriminalization

Cannabis News World

Aug 3

Delaware House Upholds Governor's Veto on Cannabis Decriminalization
Cannabtimes

<![CDATA[On May 5, the Delaware House voted, 26-14, to pass legislation that would allow adults 21 and older to legally possess up to 1 ounce of cannabis. On June 7, that same chamber voted, 20-20, on the same legislation. The only thing that changed between those two votes was Democratic Gov. John Carney's veto, which was enough to sway six representatives from honoring what most Delawareans support. That legislation, House Bill 371, and the hopes for broader reform via a regulated and taxed industry are now dead for the year. The Delaware General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn June 30 without a meaningful path forward on cannabis reform, a defeat that comes after the bicameral Legislature originally sent H.B. 371 to Carney's desk with supermajority support in both chambers—the Senate passed the bill on a 13-7 vote on May 12. House Assembly members who voted no on June 7, after previously voting yes on May 5, include Democratic Reps. Andria Bennett, William Carson and Sean Matthews, and Republican Reps. Michael Ramone and Jeffrey Spiegelman. Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Valerie Longhurst did not vote June 7, after previously voting yes. And Democratic Rep. Stephanie Bolden voted no June 7, after previously not voting. Before that vote, Democratic Rep. Ed Osienski, who sponsored H.B. 371, addressed his colleagues in the chamber about the opportunity they had before them. "We had a brief victory on May 12, when the Senate passed House Bill 371," he said. "We ended 50 years of prohibition and criminalization. We removed penalties for possession of under 1 ounce of marijuana for persons 21 years of age and older. And, most importantly, we did what a majority of Delawareans asked us to do." Osienski's push for cannabis reform policies comes at a time when 71% of Delawareans support broad legalization, according…