Montco lawmaker seeks sponsors for bill to legalize pot
Washington. Colorado. Pennsylvania? A Democratic lawmaker from Montgomery County plans to introduce a bill making marijuana use legal in Pennsylvania.
Montco lawmaker seeks sponsors for bill to legalize pot
Washington. Colorado. Pennsylvania?
A Democratic lawmaker from Montgomery County plans to introduce a bill making marijuana use legal in Pennsylvania.
What is Sen. Daylin Leach smoking, you might ask?
Common sense, he says.
Buoyed by the legalization of marijuana by voters in Washington and Colorado in the November election, Leach is circulating a memo seeking co-sposors for his bill to make pot legal in the commonwealth.
To Leach, the war on drugs, as it relates to marijuana is a waste of money and makes criminals out of otherwise law abiding citizens.
In Pennsylvania alone, there were 24,685 arrests for marijuana possession since 2006, according to the office of National Drug Control Policy.
That means $325 million to prosecute, incarcerate and disrupt the lives of thousands of people whose only crime, says Leach, "was smoking a plant which made them feel a bit giddy."
But could it happen in the socially conservative Pennsylvania legislature, where even medical marijuana legislation can't find its way out of committee let alone become law as it has in 19 states?
"I acknowledge that it may take a while," said Leach. "But like same-sex marriage, this will inevitably happen. Demographics and exposure will in time defeat irrational fears, old wives tales and bad science. This bill furthers the discussion, which hastens the day."
Leach said persecuting marijuana users is foolish, ill-conceived, costly and destructive policy must end.
His bill, he said, will remove the possession, use, and regulated sale of marijuana from the purview of our state's criminal justice system and legalize the consumption of marijuana for adults.
Leach adds the state could benefit from hundreds of millions in taxes on a product that continues to be trafficked underground.
Provisions of the legislation would include that marijuana be a regulated product, treated in a way similar to how alcohol is treated. It will be sold legally only in either state stores or beer distributors.
It still would be illegal to:
- Operate of motor vehicles under the influence of marijuana
- Possess narijuana if you are under the age of 21 or for an adult to sell it to a minor.
- It would be illegal to resell marijuana, as it is illegal to resell alcohol in Pennsylvania today.
- It would be illegal in public places - as alcohol is - and employers may prohibit its use on their property.
Said Leach: "It is time for Pennsylvania to be a leader in jettisoning this modern-day prohibition, and ending a policy that has been so destructive, costly, and anti-scientific."
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superbig1, I don't want anybody driving a vehicle who is impaired, either high on pot or alcohol. Also, your statement that prisons release rapists and murderers, while keeping the poor pot dealer imprisoned, seems to be the logic of someone who may have toasted a few brain cells.— tlee- Why is it usually the dumbocrats who have their heads in the sand? No matter how you look at it marijuana is dope, just like Leach!— vietnamvet
- I guess people who are against it are the same prejudicial people who are against gay marriage. Stay out of other peoples business and do something good for others.— LGbalsac
- Daylin Leach is the original Senator Zero. The state still has high unemployment and deficits, areas of his district continue to persist from crime and disinvestment, and what is Daylin focused on? Legalizing marijuana and making sure female prison inmates don't get shackled. All Leach cares about are progressive fringe issues. This guy doesn't do one practical thing for his constituents.— everydayguy
- If I hear or read one more LOSER who never smoked the drug preach how it is a gateway to other drugs, and this includes the LOSER governor of PA, Corbett. How do you losers know what pot does if you never smoked it. If you say POT is a gateway drug, then surely alcohol should be banned. Since most junkies had a drink before shooting up.— jg21
- Daylin Leach is an idiot. I mean REALLY......The idea of legalizing is not necessarily a bad idea.....but most people in Harrisburg view this guy as a clown. They think he already is on POT! How does this guy get elected???
— PhillyTerm - Actually, PhillyTerm, you would seem to be the idiot, here.
He was elected because he received more votes in his area than the right-wing crypto Nazi running against him!— BEMiller - I smoked pot when I was young. I no longer smoke it. Pot is not a gateway drug. I hope it is legalized and we stop wasting millions of taxpayer monies and countless hours of law enforcement trying to enforce stupid and archaic laws.— jimbojum
- Milk is a gateway drug. Nearly everyone who uses actual narcotics and other so-called hard drugs has used milk! — BEMiller
- He's nuts! It will broaden the use of marijuana if it becomes legal and more mainstream. Next, he'll suggest legalizing cocaine.— BLUEBELLION
- Has anyone done a calculation with regard to how much new revenue could be generated for the Commonwealth if marijuana was legalized, sold, and taxed? Would more or less revenue result in comparison with, say, tobacco cigarettes?— icantbelieveit
- Not sure about PA, but I read something saying it was calculated that Colorado, once everything is in place, will earn nearly $500 million in revenue. That's not counting money saved on prison systems, jobs created, etc. — BffeJ
- Its not called dope for no reason. The bulk of our problems today is because all of the dope smoking hippies of the seventies had kids who followed in their parent's footsteps.— RH
- finally! an elected official with common sense! He could also mention the amazing benefits of growing hemp for the paper and clothing industries.— high alpine
- I just became a huge supporter of Daylin Leach. Will reelect.— Knamean?
