Startups

Delaware’s cannabis advocates launch ‘Activist Action April’ to support new legalization bill

If House Bill 110 passes, Delaware will become the first state to legalize marijuana through legislation.

Some state legislators say Delaware should legalize marijuana and reap the economic benefits, while others, like AAA-MidAtlantic, disagree. (Photo by Flickr user Heather Cassano, used under a Creative Commons license)

Delaware could possibly become the first state to legalize marijuana through legislation. Although eight states, including California, Colorado, and Washington, have already legalized marijuana, it was done via a referendum, or a popular vote, which Delaware does not allow.
Last month, state legislators introduced House Bill 110, also known as the Delaware Marijuana Control Act. Under this bill, state residents, 21 and over, will be able to purchase up to ounce of marijuana from stores that are licensed to sell cannabis that has been grown in Delaware. The bill will also make way for the marijuana regulation fund, which will consist of taxes collected from the sale of marijuana, along with license fees from marijuana businesses.
State Representative Helene Keeley, who was one of at least 14 legislators who signed on to co-sponsor the bill, believes the Delaware Marijuana Control Act will create a lot of revenue and a new industry for Delaware.
“It provides protections for residents while generating revenue for various programs throughout the state,” Keeley said in a statement.
Zoe Patchell, executive director of Delaware Cannabis Advocacy Network (formerly Cannabis Bureau of Delaware), agrees that the marijuana industry and the passing of House Bill 110 could mean great things for the state.
“Cannabis prohibition is a hindrance to Delaware,” Patchell said in an interview with Technical.ly. “Legalizing cannabis could save the state nearly $22.3 million, which is currently what they spend to address cannabis prohibition. Passing this bill could result in significant revenue and economic development.” (We haven’t been able to independently confirm that number.)
Patchell and the other 60 members of the Delaware Cannabis Advocacy Network have started “Activist Action April,” in an effort to garner support and raise awareness of House Bill 110. Each weekend in April, the group will meet in various spots across the state to spread the word about the benefits of legalizing marijuana.
“We had our first one this past weekend and we just held a training and went over all of the different points in House Bill 110. We also made plans for what we hope to accomplish this month,” Patchell explained.
In 2011, Delaware legalized the use of medical marijuana, though Governor John Carney’s office say it is still rolling out the program, according to the News Journal. There is currently one medical marijuana dispensary, known as a compassion center, located in Wilmington. A second facility is scheduled to open near Lewes within the next month.

Engagement

Join our growing Slack community

Join 5,000 tech professionals and entrepreneurs in our community Slack today!

Donate to the Journalism Fund

Your support powers our independent journalism. Unlike most business-media outlets, we don’t have a paywall. Instead, we count on your personal and organizational contributions.

Trending

These 10 regions could be most impacted by federal return-to-office mandates

From Belgaum to Baltimore and beyond, this founder leaned on family to build a biotech juggernaut 

Philly vs. Kansas City: Who’s got the stronger tech economy?

Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce lays out its plan for combatting anti-DEI orders

Technically Media