Governor Jack Markell signed SB 17 today!
Delaware, we did it together!!! After the Delaware Senate’s successful reconsideration of SB 17 on Wednesday, Governor Jack Markell (D), mindful of the pleas from seriously ill Delawareans, signed SB 17 today, making it law, and Delaware the 16th medical marijuana state. SB 17 is a carefully crafted bill that will protect seriously ill Delawareans. For more information, please check out our summary.
We cannot thank our bill sponsors, Sen. Margaret Rose Henry and Rep. Helene Keeley, enough for their legislative leadership, eloquent speeches, and advocacy to their colleagues. We would also like to thank the courageous patient advocates and their loved ones who spoke out. Thank you Joe Scarborough, Chris McNeely, James Dorn, Heidi Hill, Don Brill, Janet Thomas, Dan Palomino, TJ Jurgens, Diane Jump, Trevor Wiberg, Janet Schwartz, Christopher Grogan, Curtis Mitchell, Jr., Stephen Haner, and Todd Kitchen. A big thank you also to former talk show host Montel Williams, who kicked off the campaign in Dover this year, and to all the doctors, nurses, and activists who tirelessly called their legislators. Thank you also to everyone who donated to make this effort possible.
Finally, State Policies Director Karen O’Keefe and I (Noah Mamber) are so proud to have worked since March 2009 to coordinate the grassroots and lobbying efforts to pass this law. I personally enjoyed organizing patients, reaching out to medical organizations, working with the legislative drafting attorney and our amazing lobbyists, and testifying before the General Assembly.
Delaware, we should all feel really good about what we accomplished together!
Thanks for all of your support!