Travel book author and TV personality Rick Steves will visit Delaware on Wednesday to advocate for legislation to make marijuana legal for adults.
Steves will join Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, Rep. Helene Keeley, Becky Dansky of the Marijuana Policy Project, and Zoë Patchell of the Delaware Cannabis Advocacy Network for a news conference in the House Small Caucus Room of Legislative Hall at 9:30 a.m.
The Delaware Marijuana Control Act, or HB 110, would make it legal for adults 21 and older to possess up to one ounce of cannabis and up to five grams of concentrated cannabis products. It would also direct the state to establish comprehensive rules regulating dispensaries, cultivation facilities, product manufacturers, and testing laboratories. Public consumption and driving under the influence would remain illegal.
A previous bill drew stiff opposition from AAA Mid-Atlantic, the medical community and to some degree law enforcement. The state now allows medical marijuana and there is believed to e some momentum in legalization efforts in New Jersey, following the departure of long-time foe and University of Delaware graduate Gov. Chris Christie.
A task force created by the Delaware Legislature to study the best way for the state to regulate and tax cannabis for adults’ use is holding their final meeting later in the day to discuss their analysis on how the state would be impacted by making marijuana and will present a report at the end of the month.
Steves, a long-time advocate for legalized marijuana, has a popular public television series on traveling to Europe. He has also written numerous travel books.
