I came to this decision because I believe we’ve spent far too much time focused on this issue, when Delawareans face more serious and pressing concerns every day,” Carney said in a statement.
Marijuana legalization is coming to Delaware — without Gov. John Carney’s signature.
Carney announced Friday that he would not take action on a pair of bills legalizing cannabis in the state, which will allow them to become law by default. In a statement, Carney, a Democrat who does not support marijuana legalization, said it was “time to move on.”
“I came to this decision because I believe we’ve spent far too much time focused on this issue, when Delawareans face more serious and pressing concerns every day,” Carney said in a statement.
With Carney’s decision, Delaware becomes the 22nd state to legalize recreational marijuana. Carney said that legalization is “not a step forward,” and that he remains concerned that the state could be negatively impacted by recreational cannabis.
“I’m concerned especially about the potential effects on Delaware’s children, on the safety of our roadways, and on our poorest neighborhoods, where I believe a legal marijuana industry will have a disproportionately negative impact,” Carney said.
State Rep. Ed Osienski (D., Newark), the bills’ primary sponsor, said in a statement that he understands Carney’s misgivings, and that he appreciates “him listening to the thousands of residents who support this effort.”
“After five years of countless meetings, debates, negotiations, and conversations, I’m grateful we have reached the point where Delaware has joined a growing number of states that have legalized and regulated adult recreational marijuana for personal use,” Osienski said. “I am committed to working with the administration to ensure that the effort to establish the regulatory process goes as smoothly as possible.”
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