Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
As New Hampshire's state representatives consider whether or not to approve another $1.5 million dollars of spending on drug law enforcement without making substantial changes to the drug policy status quo, they should take a few moments to contemplate the fact that Granite Staters, by a two-to-one margin, now support legalizing the most commonly used illicit substance in the state. In fact, support for marijuana legalization now significantly exceeds the popularity of any New Hampshire politician.
It's true. The WMUR/UNH Granite State Poll released March 1 found 62% support for legalization with only 30% opposed. Granite State Polls conducted this year have found that the state's most popular elected official is U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who is favored by 54%.
The same poll found that only 49% of state residents have a favorable opinion of Gov. Maggie Hassan, who refused to support modest bills reducing penalties for possessing one-half ounce or less of marijuana even after they were overwhelmingly approved by the House in 2015 and 2016. (In a 2015 poll, 72% of Granite Staters said they support decriminalization.) And only 41% said they have a favorable opinion of Sen. Kelly Ayotte, who vigorously opposed a medical marijuana bill when she was New Hampshire's Attorney General in 2009.
Public approval of New Hampshire's congressional delegation isn't even in the same league as marijuana legalization. 36% of Granite Staters said they have a favorable opinion of Rep. Annie Kuster, and only 25% said they have a favorable opinion of embattled Rep. Frank Guinta.
Despite overwhelming public support for making marijuana legal, New Hampshire remains the only state in the region that has failed to even decriminalize simple possession of marijuana. All five other New England states have adopted reasonable policies reducing penalties to a civil violation, allowing police and prosecutors to focus their limited resources on serious crimes, but Gov. Hassan and Senate President Chuck Morse, among others, have insisted on maintaining the status quo.
The state Legislature - which is viewed favorably by only 46% of Granite Staters - may soon find that New Hampshire is falling even further behind neighboring states on marijuana policy. In both Massachusetts and Maine, voters will have an opportunity this November to take matters into their own hands when they cast their ballots on referenda that would legalize and regulate marijuana for adult use. In Vermont, which does not have ballot initiatives, a legalization and regulation bill passed the Senate this year with strong support from Gov. Peter Shumlin and many legislative leaders, including Republican Senate leader Joe Benning. What's more, the state's Attorney General and two former Attorneys General penned a letter strongly endorsing the bill. "We can no longer disregard the clear evidence that our policies simply are not serving the public interest, and we believe it is time for the state to move forward with a new, more thoughtful approach to marijuana policy," they wrote. While the marijuana regulation bill did not clear the Vermont House, due to disagreement on the best approach, the state continues to move forward: An interim committee will consider how to regulate marijuana this fall.
Meanwhile, to the north, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has directed government agencies to develop a legalization plan for Canada.
Unlike Gov. Hassan and many state senators, the New Hampshire House has been responsive to public opinion on this issue. In fact, the House has passed eight bills since 2008 that would have decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana, and, in January 2014, the New Hampshire House became the first legislative chamber in the United States to approve a bill that would have ended marijuana prohibition, regulating and taxing marijuana for legal use by adults and allowing limited home cultivation. Sadly, Gov. Hassan went out of her way to shut down the discussion. "I just think it's the wrong message to send to young people," she told WMUR.
Adding insult to injury, in 2016 Gov. Hassan tapped Assistant Attorney General James Vara, the state's top drug prosecutor, to serve as New Hampshire's "drug czar." Vara's long history of opposing medical marijuana and decriminalization bills should have disqualified him from being considered for this position, let alone being selected.
The only good news for supporters of sensible drug policies in 2016 is that eight state senators are retiring (one-third of the Senate) and Hassan is abandoning the corner office to run for U.S. Senate. New Hampshire voters may not have the power to end marijuana prohibition directly by themselves, but they will have an unprecedented opportunity this year to elect a governor and senators who will be willing to lead the state out of the Prohibition Dark Ages.
The Marijuana Policy Project will publish a voter guide this summer detailing the positions of candidates for governor and state Senate. The primary election is scheduled for Sept. 13, and we already know that there will be many contrasts between candidates on marijuana policy. We will encourage voters to take advantage of these unique opportunities and to usher in a new era of drug policy leadership in Concord.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Marijuana Legalization Is More Popular Than Any NH Politician
Author: Matt Simon
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Concord Patch
It's true. The WMUR/UNH Granite State Poll released March 1 found 62% support for legalization with only 30% opposed. Granite State Polls conducted this year have found that the state's most popular elected official is U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who is favored by 54%.
The same poll found that only 49% of state residents have a favorable opinion of Gov. Maggie Hassan, who refused to support modest bills reducing penalties for possessing one-half ounce or less of marijuana even after they were overwhelmingly approved by the House in 2015 and 2016. (In a 2015 poll, 72% of Granite Staters said they support decriminalization.) And only 41% said they have a favorable opinion of Sen. Kelly Ayotte, who vigorously opposed a medical marijuana bill when she was New Hampshire's Attorney General in 2009.
Public approval of New Hampshire's congressional delegation isn't even in the same league as marijuana legalization. 36% of Granite Staters said they have a favorable opinion of Rep. Annie Kuster, and only 25% said they have a favorable opinion of embattled Rep. Frank Guinta.
Despite overwhelming public support for making marijuana legal, New Hampshire remains the only state in the region that has failed to even decriminalize simple possession of marijuana. All five other New England states have adopted reasonable policies reducing penalties to a civil violation, allowing police and prosecutors to focus their limited resources on serious crimes, but Gov. Hassan and Senate President Chuck Morse, among others, have insisted on maintaining the status quo.
The state Legislature - which is viewed favorably by only 46% of Granite Staters - may soon find that New Hampshire is falling even further behind neighboring states on marijuana policy. In both Massachusetts and Maine, voters will have an opportunity this November to take matters into their own hands when they cast their ballots on referenda that would legalize and regulate marijuana for adult use. In Vermont, which does not have ballot initiatives, a legalization and regulation bill passed the Senate this year with strong support from Gov. Peter Shumlin and many legislative leaders, including Republican Senate leader Joe Benning. What's more, the state's Attorney General and two former Attorneys General penned a letter strongly endorsing the bill. "We can no longer disregard the clear evidence that our policies simply are not serving the public interest, and we believe it is time for the state to move forward with a new, more thoughtful approach to marijuana policy," they wrote. While the marijuana regulation bill did not clear the Vermont House, due to disagreement on the best approach, the state continues to move forward: An interim committee will consider how to regulate marijuana this fall.
Meanwhile, to the north, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has directed government agencies to develop a legalization plan for Canada.
Unlike Gov. Hassan and many state senators, the New Hampshire House has been responsive to public opinion on this issue. In fact, the House has passed eight bills since 2008 that would have decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana, and, in January 2014, the New Hampshire House became the first legislative chamber in the United States to approve a bill that would have ended marijuana prohibition, regulating and taxing marijuana for legal use by adults and allowing limited home cultivation. Sadly, Gov. Hassan went out of her way to shut down the discussion. "I just think it's the wrong message to send to young people," she told WMUR.
Adding insult to injury, in 2016 Gov. Hassan tapped Assistant Attorney General James Vara, the state's top drug prosecutor, to serve as New Hampshire's "drug czar." Vara's long history of opposing medical marijuana and decriminalization bills should have disqualified him from being considered for this position, let alone being selected.
The only good news for supporters of sensible drug policies in 2016 is that eight state senators are retiring (one-third of the Senate) and Hassan is abandoning the corner office to run for U.S. Senate. New Hampshire voters may not have the power to end marijuana prohibition directly by themselves, but they will have an unprecedented opportunity this year to elect a governor and senators who will be willing to lead the state out of the Prohibition Dark Ages.
The Marijuana Policy Project will publish a voter guide this summer detailing the positions of candidates for governor and state Senate. The primary election is scheduled for Sept. 13, and we already know that there will be many contrasts between candidates on marijuana policy. We will encourage voters to take advantage of these unique opportunities and to usher in a new era of drug policy leadership in Concord.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Marijuana Legalization Is More Popular Than Any NH Politician
Author: Matt Simon
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Concord Patch
