CMMNJ Urges Veto Override of Delaware’s HB 371
For more information, contact: Ken (609) 394-2137
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WHO: The Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey, Inc. (CMMNJ)
WHAT: Urges DE legislators to override Gov. Carney’s veto of House Bill No. 371
WHERE: Delaware Legislative Hall, 411 Legislative Ave., Dover, DE 19901
WHEN: June 7, 2022 at 12 noon
WHY: Stop treating cannabis consumers as criminals
The Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey, Inc. (CMMNJ) is disappointed that Delaware Governor John Carney vetoed HB 371, a bill to remove the penalties for simple marijuana possession. Gov. Carney said his veto was out of concern for young people, law enforcement, and his uncertainty about the long-term health and economic impacts.
HB371 does not in any way amend marijuana laws with respect to use by young people. For decades, over 80% of high school seniors told Monitoring the Future that marijuana was “easy to get,” or “fairly easy to get.” When marijuana is legalized for medical or adult use, there has not been any significant rise in use by adolescents.
Adult use marijuana laws are not associated with an uptick in overall criminal activity. Recreational marijuana use is NOT a gateway to harder drug use, crime, or increased DUI’s. Even the DEA no longer believes in the Gateway myth (Federal Register, 7/8/11).
Medical patients use cannabis because it improves their quality of life, and it can do that long term. There are multiple economic benefits to improved long-term health. Currently, 19 states and Washington D.C. are beginning to reap the rewards of legalization.
“Cannabis legalization is the best way to get this essential medicine to the most people,” said Ken Wolski, RN, Executive Director of CMMNJ. “The therapeutic benefits of cannabis are enormous. Cannabis can help with a host of physical, mental, and emotional problems, many that may be undiagnosed, or misdiagnosed in people.”
CMMNJ urges Delaware legislators to override the veto and pass HB 371 into law. "Meanwhile, Delawareans are invited to use our New Jersey beaches and legal recreational cannabis until they can override the governor's veto," said CMMNJ Board Member Peter Rosenfeld..
Executive Director, Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey, Inc. www.cmmnj.org
219 Woodside Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618
(609) 394-2137 ohamkrw@aol.com
CMMNJ, founded in 2003, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization.
