It’s Time to Legalize Pot in Delaware

Filed in Delaware by on October 12, 2016

Senator Margaret Rose Henry has a bill in draft that she has committed to sending to the GA in January to legalize and tax marijuana sales here. She is proposing it in part to help generate more than $21M in new revenue for the state. I hope that this is money that would be specifically earmarked for Education, rather than the general fund. Still — there’s not much detail yet. But this is a good time to hear this, I think. We need to make sure that candidates are asked about their positions on this and be clear about who may support it. We also need to be attentive to supporting Senator Henry on this bill, meaning pressuring your GA Senators and reps to co-sponsor. She’s probably right that there will be some blowback, but the Colorado experience is pretty undenaible. The state needs the revenue and it would be good to cut off the war on drugs at this level at least. And hey, Colin Bonini says he will co-sponsor this bill!

So what do you think?

And BRAVA, Senator Henry!

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"You don't make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas." -Shirley Chisholm

Comments (22)

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  1. Ben says:

    I think the revenue/money angle is the right way to go.
    How strong is the private prison lobby in Delaware? I am unfamiliar with what kind of hold they have. I’d see them and various Cop lobbies being the ones to try to stand in the way.

  2. Jason330 says:

    I don’t happen to partake myself, but my friends who do all seem like happy healthy contributors to society. I say, Why not? I have my scotch and soda, give them their weed.

  3. mouse says:

    Don’t criticize it! Hopefully they don’t block it in committee like the fake dem leadership likes to do

  4. mouse says:

    It’s a F-ing naturally occurring plant. Think it through, it’s unlawful to own a naturally occurring plant? It doesn’t pass the laugh test. The people trying to keep it illegals are the real threat. Mostly corrupt malicious forces protecting monopolies in pharma and oil. Alcohol cases more misery in one weekend than MJ has in all of human history

  5. SussexAnon says:

    Pete Schwartzkopf doesn’t support legalization. In case you didn’t already know.

  6. Jason330 says:

    Pete is a red-faced, potato-headed relic.

  7. mouse says:

    Yes, it’s tough having the speaker as one’s rep when you need him but hate his cop mentality

  8. The cops’ opposition to marijuana legalization is b/c it takes away one of their favorite pretexts for searching cars following a police stop. Which, of course, would in part take away their ability to seize property with no charges even being filed.

    Just one more reason why we need fewer cops in Dover, and why passage is unlikely as long as a cop like Schwartzkopf controls the House.

  9. Dorian Gray says:

    “He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man.” –Psalms 104:14 KJV

  10. Stat says:

    Why not prostitution as well?

  11. cassandra_m says:

    Are you looking for a new business opportunity?

  12. Stat says:

    The state could generate a lot of money from prostitution legalization and regulation. Simple supply and demand.

  13. Anita Tyndall says:

    Revenue! We need to save addicts not create them. You legalize marijuana the dealers will put gas or turpentine in it. Then who will you blame when they kill your loved one? yourself? Can’t blame the house it’s your petition.
    For the person who says “why not prostituition?” I hope that’s a joke (pun) you would not say it if it was your child out their selling their body.
    Wake up people. There are better ways to save and generate new money.

  14. Ben says:

    What. Are. You. Taking about? Gas and turpentine? I’ve smoked pot legally and it is always cleaner and always a more professional product.
    Illegal booze made people go blind, remeber? You change the supply streams from illegal sources who also deal in guns and human traffiking, to people with health care plans and degrees in botany.

  15. Ben says:

    And why not prostitution? It’s going to happen anyway. Might as well make it as safe as possible for the professionals.

  16. cassandra_m says:

    Legal pot creates an above ground marketplace, where quality of the product becomes pretty vital as people will be spending more on it. Remember those taxes? Besides, once it is legal it gets way easier to track the people who are poisoning the product.

  17. Dorian Gray says:

    Gas and turpentine, that’s a new one. You sound like the governor of Maine.

    Reefer madness style histrionics aside, legalization is long overdue. As the resident stoner here, burning herbs on the daily, I can assure you your fears are extremely exaggerated. It’s natural and safer than cigarettes and booze. Take a deep breath… then exhale the pungent haze.

    Here’s some facts on the results of legalization in the places it’s been decriminalized for recreational use. It’s hot off the press. Just released yesterday.

    http://www.drugpolicy.org/resource/so-far-so-good-what-we-know-about-marijuana-legalization-colorado-washington-alaska-oregon-

    So we know what the impact is. We needn’t guess or conjure up nightmarish propaganda, seen? Once California legalizes we’ll see a big shift. Only state hold-outs in 5 or 10 years will be pockets of the Southeast (Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina). The end of this nonsensical prohibition is within sight.

  18. jason330 says:

    Then on to man/dog marriages. 😉

  19. My puppy is already concerned about my apparent unwillingness to commit.

    He’s too young to understand the vagaries of the legal system.

  20. mouse says:

    I heard that turpentine soaked weed is some good shit

  21. Steve Newton says:

    Legalizing weed and de-criminalizing prostitution are both steps forward. Sex workers and sex slaves exist in America already; decriminalization would bring it more out of the shadows and protect the sex workers from harm far better.

    As far as consenting adults, here are two things to consider:

    1. It’s legal to have sex for money if you have it filmed and distributed to millions of people.

    2. If you are against sex work because women are selling their bodies, why aren’t you against coal mining where men sell theirs, often to far worse physical, psychological, and health consequences?