NH Democrats: Legalize Marijuana

CONCORD, NH — New Hampshire Democrats this weekend adopted marijuana legalization as part of the party's platform ahead of the summer primary. Party officers on Saturday approved the measure during its convention Saturday in Stratham, the Associated Press reported.

“We believe that marijuana should be legalized, taxed and regulated,” the platform reads, according to the AP.

The primary is September 11; the election is November 6. Republican Governor Chris Sununu is running unopposed for reelection, while Steve Marchand and Molly Kelly — who both support marijuana legalization — are running for governor on the Democratic side. Sununu last year approved decriminalization marijuana but has stopped short of supporting a recreational plan like the one supported by Democrats.

"We are in the middle of one of the biggest drug crises the state has ever seen," Sununu old The Concord Monitor earlier this year. "To go to a full recreational marijuana when other states are seeing all the problems it has and issues it is bearing — it’s definitely not something I’m supportive of right now."

New Hampshire lawmakers are currently studying legalization plans. Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont and Canada have recently legalized marijuana. Recreational marijuana sales are set to start next month in Massachusetts.

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