Delaware Lawmakers Hope to Approve Recreational Marijuana in 2019

New Jersey is inching closer to legalizing recreational marijuana, which has Delaware lawmakers on alert. Several of the state’s lawmakers are planning to introduce new legislation in the upcoming legislative session. The hope is that Delaware lawmakers will approve recreational marijuana legalization.

Representative Sean Lynn thinks Delaware should follow suit, according to Delaware Public Radio. Legalization would help solve some of the inequities in the criminal prosecution of marijuana. The state could also use the tax revenue.

Representative Lynn said, “Have we lost out by not keeping up with our surrounding states? I don’t think that we necessarily have. But I think that’s probably the smaller price in relation to the criminal justice component. Individuals who have been in possession of an ounce or more of marijuana and criminally prosecuted while we have waffled on legalization. I think that’s the higher price we’ve paid.”

One of Lynn’s views is a bit controversial as he noted that the state decriminalized possession of an ounce or less but only for adults. It’s still illegal for younger persons to possess marijuana.

Delaware has gotten close to moving legalization efforts forward in 2018 with Representative Keeley’s bill coming just 4 votes short of advancing.