Delaware Is Paving the Way for Recreational Cannabis

Our Delaware Presents The New Era of Delaware Cannabis

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Our Delaware was honored to recently host an informative webinar about the future of cannabis in the state. During the online event, a diverse panel of experts provided valuable perspectives on various aspects of cannabis legalization, drawing lessons from both successes and challenges faced by other states. One of the main takeaways emphasized the importance of learning from neighboring states' experiences to navigate the complexities of cannabis regulation effectively.

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The webinar kicked off with a great introduction from former State Senator Margaret Rose Henry, who was a legislative leader of Delaware’s Medical Cannabis Program. Henry has supported cannabis reform since she was first elected in 1984. Her deep understanding of the intricacies of cannabis regulation, combined with her dedication to social justice, has positioned her as a leading voice in the ongoing discourse surrounding cannabis legalization, and her remarks set the tone for the webinar.

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Our experts all agree that examining best practices and lessons learned from other emerging markets is key to getting it right and crafting Delaware’s soon-to-be adult-use program. Panelist Attorney Katie Neer says looking at New York’s recreational struggles, what they did and didn’t do, along with the illicit market, will be extremely helpful while mapping out the next steps in Delaware.

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“What New York decided to do is not launch adult use with medical, which is something most other states that legalize adult use and have existing medical choose to do, and I think it's an important policy discussion for policy regulators and decision-makers to have,” said Neer.

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Panelist Tim Daly, TruGreen Global CEO, discussed Oklahoma's initial laissez-faire approach, emphasizing the importance of striking a balance between market accessibility and regulatory oversight. No matter what the approach is, Tahir Johnson of the Minority Cannabis Business Association stresses the importance of ensuring reasonable control at the local level and recommends education for all sides of the issue.

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“Having a really good educational component to it so that you can let people know what to expect when it comes to cannabis because part of the reason and things that people have been scared of make them not want to have cannabis in their town are things that are totally not true,” said Johnson.

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The webinar also explored the legislative foundation already in place with the current medical program and the need to ensure its longevity and continued success through collaboration, as the medical side is also a strong framework for expanding adult-use markets.

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“There needs to be outreach to all the stakeholders in Delaware, and we need to work together,” said Jen Stark, CEO & Owner, The Farm.

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Nurse Laura Barrett-Nutting's statement — "We are hope dealers, not drug dealers" — captured the essence and need of the medical cannabis movement. On a similar thread, Delaware State Senator Kyra Hoffner would like to see a system developed that allows medical patients to maintain ease of access to great facilities and products.

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“When you go into a medical facility – they are taking the time to get to know the patients. It’s really important that we keep this open, we need to make sure our medical facilities have the ability to expand to meet the needs of their patients and customers,” said State Sen. Hoffner.

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The New Era of Delaware Cannabis webinar wrapped up with reassurance from Delaware Marijuana Commissioner Rob Coupe that everything is being done to ensure an adult-use program is implemented through a thoughtful approach. Coupe emphasized the urgency of establishing a robust regulatory framework while fostering inclusivity and stakeholder engagement.

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“There is a sense of urgency for me and for my team, and we are pushing, and what we are hoping is by this time next year that that is a reality, that we are open for business so to speak in Delaware,” said Rob Coupe, Delaware Marijuana Commissioner. “As far as engaging the groups on both sides, it spreads you thin, it takes a lot of time to do it but like I said it's very important and I think the pathway forward to really make this successful in Delaware is to try and bring everyone together.”

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As Delaware embarks on this journey, the collective wisdom shared in forums like these serves as a guiding light toward a more equitable and sustainable future for cannabis regulation. Our Delaware is proud to provide this webinar not only as a platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange but also to help support the collaborative efforts necessary to navigate legalization successfully.

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You can watch the full webinar here.