The State Senate is poised to again take up marijuana regulations with SB 30 scheduled for discussion tomorrow (Friday).
The Senate Finance Committee forwarded the bill on a 16 to 4 vote last Wednesday. Senators Dennis Egan, Johnny Ellis, Berta Gardner and Bill Wielechowski were in opposition.
Local resident Dolly Phelps says she’s an advocate for the responsible use of marijuana, and feels it would actually benefit area youth to have established marijuana stores and clubs.
Phelps: “But they are actually a lot of times the one selling it on the black market and I don’t see it as a harmful substance, but I do see it something that needs to be regulated like alcohol and we don’t allow our children under 21 to consume alcohol and nor should we allow them access to marijuana. It does frighten me that people are trying to use the kid aspect to further their own concerns, personal concerns, but I think this needs to be something that’s looked at with real critical data instead of fear.”
The bill would update state crimes now that certain recreational use and possession of marijuana is legal for adults 21 and older. It sets out the crimes for possession of larger amounts of marijuana and would prohibit a commercial or retail marijuana industry in the state’s unorganized borough outside of municipalities. Marijuana would remain a controlled substance.