CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – The idea of legalizing cannabis for adult recreational use in West Virginia is now a campaign issue for 2024.
Democratic candidate for governor of West Virginia and mayor of Huntington, Steve Williams, spoke out in favor of legalizing marijuana.
Williams said voters should be able to decide the issue once and for all with a ballot initiative. He said legal marijuana in the Mountain State could be a major source of tax revenue.
“We can look at states like Colorado and California, where cannabis legalization has spurred economic growth and created thousands of jobs. West Virginia can follow their example to diversify our economy and create new opportunities,” Williams said.
Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, the Republican candidate for governor, opposes the legalization of marijuana for recreational use.
Morrisey said in a statement from his campaign team: “I am fully focused on doing everything we can to combat the opioid epidemic in West Virginia. That means dealing with Chinese fentanyl coming across the southern border and getting victims the supplies they need. I am not in favor of allowing more drugs into our state.”
Our neighboring states Ohio and Virginia have currently legalized recreational use and Maryland has decriminalized marijuana use.
