New Hampshire Governor Candidates Weigh In on Marijuana Legalization Ahead of Primary
As New Hampshire prepares for its primary elections, candidates for governor are weighing in on the issue of marijuana legalization. While all three leading Democratic candidates support legalization, top Republicans are opposed to the idea.
The Democratic contenders, Joyce Craig, Cinde Warmington, and Jon Kiper, recently sat down with marijuana reform advocates to discuss their stances on legalization and the state’s eventual cannabis market. While they agree that it’s time to end prohibition, each candidate has a different vision for how to do it.
Daryl Eames, founder of the New Hampshire Cannabis Association, hosted the candidate interviews and emphasized that the goal was not to choose a preferred candidate, but rather to flesh out where each stood on the issues. All five leading candidates were invited, including Democrats Craig, Warmington, and Kiper, as well as Republicans Kelly Ayotte and Chuck Morse.
Only the Democrats accepted the invitation, with neither Ayotte nor Morse responding. Eames noted that the Republicans’ opposition to legalization is not surprising, given their past statements on the issue.
The Democratic candidates have differing views on key policy issues, such as home cultivation, THC concentration limits, and the state’s role in the cannabis industry. Craig, the former mayor of Manchester, opposes putting the state’s Liquor Commission in charge of the industry, instead favoring smaller, private businesses run by local owners. Warmington, an attorney and former lobbyist, is open to direct-to-consumer sales by farmers and outdoor cultivation. Kiper, who has the least support among the Democrats, is open to finding the best way to get legalization across the finish line, whether that means a state-run model or not.
Matt Simon, director of public and government relations at GraniteLeaf Cannabis, believes that if any of the Democratic candidates win the general election, New Hampshire will be in a great position to legalize cannabis in 2025. A recent poll showed that 61% of New Hampshire residents support legalization, and Simon believes that the Democratic candidates’ support for legalization will resonate with voters.
The Republican candidates, Ayotte and Morse, have both expressed opposition to legalization. Ayotte, a former U.S. senator and state attorney general, cited concerns about the negative impact on youth and the state’s mental health crisis. Morse, a former president of the state Senate, claimed that legalizing marijuana would worsen addiction problems and increase traffic deaths due to impaired driving.
As the primary elections approach, marijuana legalization is likely to become a bigger issue
