Delegate still wants to consider recreational marijuana for PEIA funding

Delegate John Williams (D – Monongalia, 51)

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — One of the most heated legislative sessions in West Virginia history has officially wrapped up.

Del. John Williams (D-Monongalia, 51) said he had never experienced anything like the 83rd Legislature.

“It’s one of the more thrilling things that has happened in my time there, in terms of people really focusing on what’s happening in their capital,” said Williams Thursday on WAJR’s Morgantown AM. “Really knowing the role call votes by heart, knowing who voted for the teachers, who voted against them. “It was really quite the amazing experience.”

Thousands of teachers and service personel were in Charleston, first as part of demonstrations and then as part of the historic nine-day work stoppage, to protest issues involving pay, benefits, and the future of public education.

The back-and-forth included varying proposals of one percent pay raises for five years, a four percent pay raise over three years, and bills that attempted to shore up holes in the Public Employee’s Insurance Agency through the PEIA Stabilization Fund. In the end, all state workers were provided a five percent pay raise, costing about $111 million through budgetary cuts.

Additionally, a number of unpopular bills targeted by school personnel unions were tabled. Governor Jim Justice also signed an executive order creating a PEIA Task Force, with the goal of finding long-term solutions to the annual budget hole PEIA suffers.

“That’s a question that’s unfortunately left unanswered, and hopefully, they have an answer to that and a solution to that when the 84th legislature goes back into session in about a year,” Williams said.

Williams has suggested, and even sponsored legislation codifying, the legalization of recreational marijuana.

“Let’s at least take a look at it, because there’s no doubt that we are leaving a lot of revenue on the table in this state,” Williams said. “Let’s at least take a look at it, let’s at least talk about it some.”

A significant tax on recreational marijuana could bring in close to $500 million dollars, Williams said.

“I don’t think that anyone can possibly argue that in all 50 states, within the next 30 years, it will be totally legalized,” he said. “I don’t think anyone can argue with that fact, and so let’s just get on board now and see some benefits right now.”

Officially putting a bow on the 2018 session, Gov. Justice officially signed the 4.38 billion dollar Budget Bill Thursday, with no need for a Special Session.