Sen. Colin Bonini (R-Dover South), who’s seeking the Republican nomination for governor, announced his tepid support for legalizing the use of recreational marijuana in Delaware.
Bonini is the first gubernatorial candidate from either party to support full legalization this election cycle, though he says he does it reluctantly.
“We’ve already made it legal and I’m not a fan and I’m especially not a fan when teenagers get hooked and since we’ve made it legal, we should regulate it. Perhaps we should tax it,” he said.
Bonini says recent steps to legalize medical marijuana and decriminalize small amounts of pot are not the best public policy decision, but they are politically savvy.
"Let's regulate that, let's tax that, let's create a structure for that, let's keep it to people 21-years-of-age and older, because what we've done...is we've created a marijuana freedom zone."
Bonini says he’s come to that decision after years of legislation chipping away at criminal penalties associated with using or possessing the drug – largely with him voting against such measures.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Congressman John Carney embraced the state decriminalizing the drug last year, but his campaign manager says Carney is still waiting to see what consequences might arise from other states that have regulation and taxation systems for pot in place.
Lacey Lafferty, Bonini’s Republican primary opponent, replied to a reporter's account of the debate on Twitter by saying legalization would be the "end of civilization" and called Bonini a "Buffoon".
A statement from Lafferty sent to Delaware Public Media afterwards says easing further restrictions on pot would enhance the state's heroin epidemic.
"It's just adding to the erosion and degradation of our communities, counties, state and nation. Our youth need to be coherent, responsible and physically fit to become our next leaders of our state and nation. Legalizing marijuana will do nothing but add to our society's woes," she wrote.
Gov. Jack Markell (D) has also stopped short of supporting the legalization of recreational marijuana, as have other top state elected officials like Attorney General Matt Denn (D).
Delaware's decriminalization law levies $100 fines for those over 21-years-of-age caught with less than an ounce of the drug.
It is considered a misdemeanor for those under 21-years-old, though the bill being debated when Bonini announced his policy position would allow first time offenders to avoid a criminal record.
The state's relationship with medical marijuana has been touch and go. Lawmakers first authorized the practice in 2011, but soon became wary of a potential clash with the federal government.
Markell rekindled that initiative in 2013, with the first dispensary opening near Wilmington last summer. State officials are currently reviewing bids to open new dispensaries in Kent and Sussex Counties with the hopes of choosing one or more locations by the end of the summer.
Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and the District of Columbia have all legalized recreational marijuana since 2012.
Eight states have legislation or ballot measures pending to bring the drug to the marketplace and initiatives in 14 other states have failed this year according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Advocates in Delaware have lobbied legislators for years to fully legalize pot and anticipate a bill to be introduced next January after the upcoming election.