Delaware is facing a difficult budget crisis, as the governor outlined earlier this year. The solution to much of the state’s financial distress is legalizing recreational marijuana. Recent polls show that 61-percent of Delaware residents support legal recreational marijuana.
Some state that there are multiple benefits that Delaware can reap from legal recreational marijuana, according to Cape Gazette. The cost of prosecuting simple marijuana possession/use cases could be forwarded to fighting more serious crimes. Part of the argument also includes mentions of increased public safety from properly regulating marijuana.
Given that legal recreational marijuana would create jobs and result in major tax revenue for the state, many believe the time to legalize in Delaware is now – not later. Delaware has the benefit of looking at what is working in other recreationally legal states and taking a few lessons from them in creating their own regulation.
In states where recreational marijuana is legal, it is reported that consumers prefer the legal product that is regulated, tested and deemed safe rather than what’s available on the street. Marijuana use and possession is already decriminalized in Delaware, lawmakers and residents believe it’s time to go a step further.
It is believed that passing recreational marijuana legislation is a “commonsense win-win” for the state and its residents, and one step closer to putting an end to federal prohibition.