Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 1301 – Purpose and findings
(a) In the interest of creating jobs with community benefits, eliminating the marijuana illegal market to allow law enforcement to focus on violent crime and property crimes, and promoting individual freedom, the General Assembly finds and declares that the personal use of marijuana should be legal for persons 21 years of age or older and taxed in a manner similar to alcohol.
Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 1301
- Alcohol: means ethyl alcohol produced by the distillation of any fermented liquid, whether rectified or diluted with water or not, whatever may be the origin thereof, and includes synthetic ethyl alcohol, but it does not mean ethyl alcohol, diluted or not, that has been denatured or otherwise rendered unfit for beverage purposes. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
- Marijuana: means as defined in § 4701 of Title 16. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 1302
- State: means the State of Delaware; and when applied to different parts of the United States, it includes the District of Columbia and the several territories and possessions of the United States. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
(b) In the interest of the health and public safety of our citizenry, the General Assembly further finds and declares that marijuana must be regulated in a manner similar to alcohol to ensure all of the following:
(1) Individuals will have to show proof of age before purchasing marijuana.
(2) Selling, distributing, or transferring marijuana to individuals under the age of 21 remains illegal.
(3) Driving under the influence of marijuana remains illegal.
(4) Legitimate, taxpaying businesspeople, not criminal actors, conduct sales of marijuana.
(5) Marijuana sold in this State will be tested, labeled, and subject to additional regulations to ensure that consumers are informed and protected.
(c) The General Assembly further finds and declares that it is necessary to ensure consistency and fairness throughout this State, and therefore, that the matters addressed by this chapter are of statewide concern, except as specified in this chapter.