When the latest attempt by State Rep. Ed Osienski (D-Newark) saw a litany of last minute amendment fillings and debate over creating a social equity fund, efforts to get his bill passed this last session came to a halt.
Osienski says he’s spent recent months tweaking the bill and incorporating the amendments so it can finally get a vote.
He adds every year Delaware doesn’t legalize the drug, the state falls further behind in preparing for an eventual federal legalization.
“Talk has increased on getting something done federally and it would be nice if we were up and running — and our businesses were up and running,” Osienski said. “They would benefit from interstate commerce if the federal government ever opened it up.”
Osienski argues legalizing the drug before the federal government does allows small businesses owners to take a hold of the market before large corporations can start setting up massive nationwide marijuana industries.