Lt. Gov’s marijuana listening tour coming to Jim Thorpe on Monday

Lt. Gov. John Fetterman will visit Jim Thorpe on Monday as part of his statewide tour to gauge public opinion on legalizing recreational marijuana.

The meeting takes place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Jim Thorpe High School, 1 Olympian Way, Jim Thorpe.

Carbon County will be the 64th county that Fetterman has visited this year to hear opinions about recreational marijuana.

During the meeting, residents will be able to voice their opinion. They can also submit comment cards or online comment.

Fetterman held tour stops in Schuylkill County on March 2, Lehigh County on April 5, and Monroe County on April 7.

During the tour stops, Fetterman hasn’t been taking a position on legalization, instead just listening to residents state their opinion on the issue.

Polls show that support for legalizing marijuana is growing in the state. A March poll by Franklin and Marshall University showed that 59% of Pennsylvania voters support legalizing marijuana, up from 22% in 2006.

However Fetterman’s tour has not been without controversy. Some Republican lawmakers have accused the listening tour of being biased toward pro-marijuana supporters. Fetterman in turn says that some Republican legislators are urging marijuana opponents to attend the meetings.

After he leaves Carbon County, Fetterman will head to Bucks and Cameron counties for sessions during the week. The listening tour will conclude with four sessions in Philadelphia next weekend.

Fetterman previously stopped in Jim Thorpe in 2016 to speak to the Carbon County Democrats for Progress while he was running for U.S. Senate.

For more information about the Lt. Governor’s listening tour or to submit comments online, visit www.governor.pa.gov/recreational-marijuana-feedback.