Potential GOP Presidential Candidate Gov. Chris Sununu Does U-Turn On Marijuana, 'Change Is Inevitable'

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, who is apparently considering a run for president, proposed a new path toward regulating marijuana. The news came out on Friday - one day after Senate members voted down legislation that would legalize marijuana.   

“In 2017, I was proud to be the first Governor in New Hampshire history to sign legislation decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana so that no one would go to jail for simple possession,” Sununu stated. “We expanded access to medical marijuana and provided a pathway to annul old convictions for marijuana possession. In the past, I said now is not the time to legalize marijuana in New Hampshire.”

New Hampshire is the only state in New England where adult-use marijuana is still illegal, despite the majority of residents backing the reform. That’s why Sununu, who previously said he would veto any adult-use cannabis legalization bill, now believes that the “change is inevitable.”

“To ignore this reality would be shortsighted and harmful. That is why, with the right policy and framework in place, I stand ready to sign a legalization bill that puts the state of New Hampshire in the driver’s seat, focusing on harm reduction — not profits,” the governor stated.

Governor’s Plan 

Sununu’s proposal to regulate marijuana is based on liquor sales regulation, in order “to keep substances away from kids by ensuring the State of New Hampshire retains control of marketing, sales, and distribution — eliminating any need for additional taxes.” Sununu noted that the proposed House legislation that was recently defeated was not offering the right path for the state, as among many other proposals it was imposing a 12.5% tax on final products sold to retailers.

The key ideas in the governor’s new proposal include:

• Avoiding “marijuana miles,” or cannabis stores densely concentrated within one city or town;

• Prohibiting marketing;

• Allowing towns to opt out;

• Maintaining the industry tax-free.

All these points are to provide a “safer place” to the citizens.

Sununu concluded that his proposal makes a “long-term, sustainable solution” for New Hampshire and that all other bills that don’t include these provisions would be vetoed.

Democrats Respond 

House Democratic leader Matt Wilhelm said that the governor’s proposal is “a day late and a dollar short,” writes the Associated Press. 

“The policy framework proposed by Governor Sununu today is significantly different than what has been debated in the House and Senate over the past four months,” Wilhelm stated “Despite Sununu’s sudden, calculated desire to raise his national profile on a popular issue, we will continue approaching cannabis legalization through the methodical, thought-out way that Granite Staters deserve.”

"Despite @GovChrisSununu's sudden, calculated desire to raise his national profile on a popular issue, we will continue approaching cannabis legalization through the methodical, thought-out way that Granite Staters deserve." - @RepWilhelm #NHPolitics pic.twitter.com/716zwqgBXn

— NH House Democrats (@NHHouseDems) May 12, 2023

Photo: Benzinga edit with images by Erin Stone from Pixabay and Wikimedia Commons