New Hampshire Rep. Says During Primary Debate She Would Back Federal Cannabis Legalization

During a WMUR debate last week against her primary challenger, Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) said she would back the legalization of cannabis at the federal level, saying that “Law enforcement resources should be focused directly on the challenges that are most pressing for communities.”  

“I believe that for far too long we have been focused on the wrong offenders – so I do. …We have serious problems when it comes to drugs and cartels in this country and opioids have been one of the top killers in our communities. We’ve been wrecked by the opioid crisis.” — Goodlander during the debate 

Her opponent, state Rep. Paige Beauchemin, agreed that she would back cannabis legalization federally but indicated that a national retail cannabis market should be implemented in a way that focuses on small businesses.      

“I think that it’s silly that we allow alcohol and don’t allow cannabis but we need to make sure we are implementing it in a way that small businesses are able to run those businesses as opposed to large corporations that are buying those businesses from the folks who have been on the other end of the criminal justice system,” Beauchemin said during the debate. “They shouldn’t have been punished and then not even be able to run a store, if that’s something they want to do.” 

The state’s primary elections are underway today. The University of New Hampshire Survey Center gives Goodlander the edge in the race, with 59% support compared to Beauchemin’s 19%.