Sununu drops opposition to legalizing marijuana in New Hampshire

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) has dropped his opposition to legalizing marijuana within the state, placing ahead a pathway for a legalization invoice to be authorised.

Sununu mentioned in a Medium post on Friday that he beforehand mentioned now was not the time to legalize marijuana as different states “rushed” to legalize it with “little guardrails.” He added that he acknowledges {that a} majority of the state’s residents help legalization and alter on the state’s coverage is probably going inevitable.

“To disregard this actuality could be shortsighted and dangerous,” he mentioned. “That’s the reason, with the proper coverage and framework in place, I stand able to signal a legalization invoice that places the State of NH within the drivers seat, specializing in hurt discount — not earnings.”

Sununu defined that his proposal would permit the state to regulate distribution and entry to marijuana, preserve it away from youngsters and colleges, management advertising and marketing and messaging, permit cities to ban marijuana outlets in the event that they select and preserve it gross sales tax-free.

Beneath his plan, the state would management the advertising and marketing, gross sales and distribution of marijuana —much like the way it controls liquor gross sales — thus, taking away the necessity for any extra taxes. He mentioned this might additionally stop youngsters from being “bombarded” with commercials, digital advertisements and billboards day by day.

He mentioned the state must also keep away from “marijuana miles,” a metropolis or city being densely populated with marijuana outlets.

Sununu claimed he would veto any future legalization payments that don’t embody his proposed provisions. He mentioned he’s prepared to work with the legislature to create a legalization invoice that “retains the material and tradition” of New Hampshire.

“This can be a long-term, sustainable answer for our state. I’m supportive of legalizing marijuana in the proper manner — with this legislature — slightly than threat a poorly thought out framework that inevitably might cross below future governors or legislatures,” he mentioned.

The governor famous in his publish that he signed laws in 2017 to decriminalize possession of small quantities of marijuana and the state has already expanded entry to medical marijuana and created a pathway for previous marijuana possession convictions to be annulled.

He told the Manchester-based ABC affiliate WMUR in an interview that marijuana offered illegally is more and more being laced with different medicine, so legalization might carry extra security to marijuana use.

Nearly half of all states have legalized leisure marijuana, in keeping with the Nationwide Convention of State Legislatures. New Hampshire, which has a medicinal program, is the one New England state that has not legalized it.