Lt. Gov. Fetterman marijuana tour stop in Washington draws support for legalization
Julia Pansino of Canonsburg was the first person to speak Monday at Lt. Gov. John Fetterman’s listening tour on legalizing recreational marijuana when it stopped in Washington County.
Lt. Gov. John Fetterman listens Monday to public comments in Washington during his tour on legalizing recreational marijuana.
Lt. Gov. John Fetterman heard strong public support for legalizing recreational marijuana when his statewide listening tour on the subject stopped in Washington County.
A standing-room-only crowd of at least 200 people turned out for the meeting where those who offered support for legalizing the drug were greeted with loud applause when they finished speaking.
“We are adamantly prolegalization,” said Kathy Smith of Washington County’s Libertarian Party when she spoke at the meeting in the Center on Strawberry in the city of Washington.
Fetterman began the tour this month with plans to visit all 67 counties in Pennsylvania to gauge public opinion on legalizing recreational marijuana in the state. He hasn’t yet scheduled a stop in Fayette or Westmoreland counties.
He said Monday his opinion on the subject wasn’t important.
“What I am interested in is what all of you think,” Fetterman said. “Let’s talk cannabis.”
Most of those who spoke in support of making the drug legal appeared to be passionate about their beliefs, while discussing issues which included making marijuana safer than what is on the black market through government testing and regulation.
Julia Pansino of Canonsburg said a lot of people use marijuana to treat anxiety and depression. She also said taxes on the drug could raise money to repair the state’s infrastructure.
Others said they supported legalization because it would expunge criminal records involving recreational marijuana possession. Some people there expressed anger at the opioid epidemic, saying marijuana users are at risk because they deal with the same people who push heroin.
Jeff Marcischak of Washington County was among those who spoke in opposition to legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
“I am totally opposed to this,” Marcischak said. “I have a 3-year-old granddaughter, and I don’t want her to be exposed to this.”
This was the fifth stop on Fetterman’s listening tour, said Julie Strickland-Gilliard, his regional director in Western Pennsylvania.
“So far overall, most folks who are getting up and speaking are pro,” Strickland-Gillard said.
Fetterman scheduled another such meeting for Tuesday at Waynesburg University in Greene County.