Editor’s note: The following was sent to Rep. Kim Williams, D-Newport and other state legislators.
I would like to thank Rep. Williams for her commitment to the people of Delaware for voting in support of House Bill 305. Marijuana legalization is a simple decision for anyone who supports freedom and wants to enjoy a high quality of life in this great state. People who don’t support bills like this would probably fit in better at a nursing home, rather than as a member of a legislative body making decisions that affect hundreds of thousands. That’s what makes the failure of HB 305 so disappointing.
The bill only needed two more votes to advance to the Senate, which is why it is so exceptionally disappointing to see the failure of Reps. Stephanie T. Bolden, D-Wilmington (age 75); Peter Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach (age 67); and William Bush, D-Dover (age 54). At a time when the average American is 38 years old and overwhelmingly supportive of marijuana legalization (sources by Gallup and the Pew Research Center), can these three representatives truly afford the political hit that will come from this? Can any politician afford to be seen as an ancient dinosaur when so many people are asking for change?
It would be much smarter for these three to start voting in line with the interests of constituents, rather than whatever prompted them to vote against the bill like Mr. Schwartzkopf or worse, not bother voting at all, like Rep. Bolden and Rep. Bush. If the people of Delaware select you to legislate in their interest, what does it say of your character that you can’t even be bothered to vote yes or no?
It is time to wake up! Anyone who follows politics in this country can see which way things are going. We need common sense legalization, personal cultivation and retail sales of marijuana in order to avoid being left in the dust. Delaware has a history as a leader in business, but if we choose to drag our feet, stick our heads in the sand and pretend that this isn’t happening, it will be New Jersey, Connecticut or Maryland eating our lunch.
At this point, you can either choose to be on the right side of history and make money for our state, or you will be stuck in the past and cost us millions of dollars in tax revenue. Let’s make the right decision.
I urge our Democratic leaders in the House to speak to these three about their future in politics. Delawareans are fed up with this needless delay. Marijuana legalization is coming. Make the right choice. If you can’t get legalization done, we will find someone who can.
Retired U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert O’Steen
Wilmington
