Gov. Carney will sit down with opponents of Delaware’s marijuana legalization bill

Opponents to the legalization of recreational marijuana will have an opportunity to voice their concerns to Gov. John Carney, during a roundtable discussion this Thursday, June 1.
A similar event, which was specifically for supporters of House Bill 110, was held at Delaware Technical Community College’s George Campus on April 10.
According to the News Journal, it was at the April meeting that a Middletown resident, who is against the legalization of marijuana, called on Carney to hold a second meeting.
AAA Mid-Atlantic Public Affairs Manager Ken Grant said Thursday’s event is proof that Carney is willing to listen to all sides of this issue and gather information from a variety of sources.
“In April, he heard from a panel that represented one side of the issue surrounding the legalization and commercialization of marijuana for recreational use,” Grant said via email. “On June 1, he will hear from experts in public safety and public health who have significant concerns about the impact such legislation would have here in Delaware.”
AAA Mid-Atlantic is part of the Keep Delaware Safe and Healthy Coalition — a new alliance that is made up of organizations that are opposed to the legalization and commercialization of marijuana. Other members include the Delaware Police Chiefs’ Association, the Medical Society of Delaware and atTAcK Addiction.
In a letter addressed to the governor and members of the 149th General Assembly, the new group shared its concerns, which included public safety, public health and economic development.
“What we are left with are claims by proponents that simply do not stand against science and the data and evidence that is emerging from states that have recently commercialized recreational marijuana,” the group said in the letter.
Grant hopes Thursday’s forum will give the diverse group of experts an opportunity to share their research, data, and concerns with the governor, legislators and the public.