State House Speaker: Voters To Decide Weed

As marijuana legalization language was approved Thursday by the State Board of Canvassers, the Speaker of the House Tom Leonard says a vote by lawmakers in the state House will not happen.

“At this point, I do not anticipate it happening,” Leonard told reporters. “There is not much support in the (Republican) caucus, I personally do not support it, so I believe this is something that ultimately the voters are going to have to decide.”

The ballot proposal would legalize the possession and sale of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal and recreational use. There was a chance the House would vote on the issue because some Republicans feared it will draw more voters to the polls in November and could threaten their majority in the chamber.