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Delaware Marijuana Legalization Bill Gets Committee Approval

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DOVER, Del. (AP) - A bill to legalize marijuana in Delaware has cleared its first legislative hurdle.

The House Revenue and Finance Committee voted Wednesday after a two-hour hearing to send the bill to the full House.

The legislation calls for a state-licensed industry that would create jobs while padding state coffers with licensing fees and taxes.

The bill calls for state government to collect a 15% tax on retail sales price of marijuana, as well as licensing fees.

As a revenue-generating proposal, the bill does not allow Delawareans to grow their own marijuana for their personal use.

Democratic Gov. John Carney remains wary of legalizing marijuana for recreational use, but Democratic Attorney General Kathy Jennings supports the idea.

Other opponents of the measure include the Delaware State Police and the state medical society.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.