DOVER — After months of deliberation between legislators, a bill that would implement taxes and regulations on the sale of marijuana failed in the House of Representatives by one vote Thursday.
Its sponsor, however, isn’t giving up.
House Bill 372 was one of two bills that Rep. Ed Osienski, D-Newark, introduced after the March 10 defeat of his previous marijuana legislation, HB 305, which would have legalized and regulated marijuana under the Delaware Marijuana Control Act.
After that bill’s defeat, HB 372 was introduced to cover the tax and regulation side of marijuana sales, while HB 371 was introduced to address legalization. The latter bill has passed both the House and the Senate and awaits the governor’s signature.
After HB 372 was defeated Thursday, Rep. Osienski changed his vote to no, allowing for another vote on the House floor in the future. With HB 305 failing by two votes and HB 372 failing by one, the lawmaker said the process has not gone as planned, but he still believes this legislation is consistent with the interest of Delawareans.
“It’s very frustrating. It’s kind of head-scratching to keep coming up one or two votes short. I feel like every time I pick up a vote, I lose a vote. I was really optimistic (Thursday). Everything looked good,” he said.
One of HB 372’s co-sponsors, Rep. Larry Mitchell, D-Elsmere, missed Thursday’s House session, due to illness, Rep. Osienski…
