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Delaware House to vote on cannabis legalization Thursday

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

If passed, Delawareans could possess up to an ounce of pot without fear of criminal or civil penalties. (Getty Images) The bill to legalize simple possession of up to an ounce of marijuana will be voted on in the House of Representatives Thursday. House Bill 371, sponsored by Rep. Ed Osienski, D-Newark, represents one-half of the latest effort to legalize …

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Public given chance to comment on marijuana possession bill

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

A bill to legalize the possession of an ounce of pot or less was released from a House committee Tuesday and will advance to the House floor for a vote. The bill initially appeared to fail, but after votes were gathered from committee members who were absent, it was revealed to have passed. House Bill 371 came before the House …

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Weed, taxes, police reform likely to dominate end of GA session

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

With the year-long campaign to pass paid family and medical leave in the rearview mirror, the General Assembly returns to work Tuesday with two months left to focus on the rest of its progressive agenda. When the House of Representatives and Senate reconvene, they will be kicking off a two-month stretch to the end of the 151st General Assembly on …

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Bentz reverses course: Pot bill to get full public hearing

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Rep. David Bentz, D-Christiana Concerned citizens will have a chance to offer public comment on a marijuana legalization bill after all.  Multiple lawmakers walked out of the House Health and Human Development Committee Wednesday after the majority of the committee’s members voted to release the bill without first hearing public comments.  During the meeting, a House attorney said rules do …

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Bentz, Dems refuse to allow public comment on marijuana bill

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Multiple lawmakers walked out of the House health committee Wednesday in protest of a vote to release a marijuana legalization bill without hearing public comment.  After facing backlash from Republicans, House Democrats announced the bill will be reassigned to the committee and members of the public will be permitted to provide comments after the legislature returns from recess in May. …

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Osienski’s joint bills make another run at legalizing pot  

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Rep. Ed Osienski, D-Newark Some thought this year’s fight to legalize marijuana in Delaware was over after House Bill 305 failed in the General Assembly last month.  It’s not.  Rep. Ed Osienski, D-Newark, has since developed new legislation – and a new strategy – that could result in a different outcome. Newly introduced House Bills 371 and 372 would have …

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Cannabis legalization may return for a vote in 2022, sponsor says

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Rep. Ed Osienski, D-Newark. It may not be the end of the line for recreational marijuana legalization in Delaware. While Rep. Ed Osienski’s House Bill 305 was defeated in the House of Representatives after a stunning series of events Thursday, the Newark Democrat said he’s still hopeful that cannabis prohibition could come to an end in 2022.  “I hope there’s …

a close up of a green plant

Marijuana legalization fails after stunning series of events, political maneuvering

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

House Bill 305, also known as the Delaware Marijuana Control Act, sought to legalize the cultivation, sale and possession of marijuana. (Getty Images) The bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Delaware came to a stunning end in the House of Representatives when it failed after a series of events: A two-hour-long recess was called by Speaker of the House Pete …

a close up of a green plant

Recreational marijuana bill heads to House floor

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The bill to legalize the sale and possession of marijuana in Delaware moved to the House floor Thursday after earning a stamp of approval from four members of the House Appropriations Committee. The bill was “walked through” the committee, meaning the majority of the committee’s members “signed the backer,” a document that releases the bill for further consideration without the …

John Carney wearing a suit and tie

Carney still doesn’t support legal weed

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Photo/Office of the Governor Gov. John Carney said during Tuesday’s weekly COVID-19 briefing that his position on recreational marijuana legalization has not changed: he doesn’t support it.  The statement comes as a bill to legalize the cultivation, sale and possession of marijuana in Delaware makes its way through the General Assembly. House Bill 305, also known as the Delaware Marijuana …