Today, Gov. John Carney (D) became the first Democratic governor to veto a cannabis legalization bill by vetoing HB 371 — a bill that would legalize possession of up to one ounce of cannabis for adults 21 and older in Delaware. Meanwhile, a supermajority of Delawareans support cannabis legalization.
Yesterday, HB 372 – a bill that would legalize, regulate, and tax cannabis sales in the state – fell short of the needed 25 votes. Notably, the bill sponsor, Rep. Ed Osienski (D), changed his vote from yes to no, which will allow him to have the bill reconsidered before the legislative session ends on June 30. The final vote count was 23-15 with two absences (one of whom is a cosponsor of the bill).
Exciting news! Today, for the first time ever, the Delaware Senate passed a legalization bill — HB 371 — in a 13-7 vote. HB 371 would simply legalize possession of up to one ounce of cannabis for adults 21 and older in Delaware. It passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee just one day earlier.
Big news! Today, for the first time, the Delaware House of Representatives approved (26-14) a bill – HB 371 – that would legalize possession of up to one ounce of cannabis for adults!
Good news! The effort to legalize cannabis for adults in Delaware this year is not over. After a comprehensive legalization bill — HB 305 — failed to get a three-fifths supermajority on the House floor in March, Rep. Ed Osienski (D) has taken a new two-track approach and introduced two separate cannabis bills — HB 371 and HB 372.
