State of New Hampshire secondary Archives: on Drugs
Andy Martin:
We need more Safe Stations, for opioid users
While the federal government can "do more" with border security and law enforcement, local people have to carry the burden of helping fight the opioid crisis. Manchester's Safe Station program is an approach that I support because it was developed by
locals to help locals. We need more of that. We face a genuine crisis because there is a countervailing attitude to accept drug use. Once again, the political parties and the states and local communities need encouragement to work together.
Source: WMUR.com on 2020 New Hampshire Senate race
Nov 1, 2018
Bill Weld:
Accept benefits of cannabis; allow vets and seniors to use
Veterans should be permitted to receive health care from hospitals and health care providers outside the exclusive network of V.A. hospitals. They should be permitted to use cannabis for the relief of post-traumatic stress disorder without losing
their veteran's benefits, as is the case under current V.A. law. The elderly must be permitted to have full access to non-addictive drugs which are useful for the relief of pain, including cannabis and CBD.
Source: Speech in New Hampshire by 2020 presidential hopefuls
Feb 15, 2019
Chris Sununu:
Given NH's opioid epidemic, a drug czar is a necessity
The [drug czar] position is funded by an appropriation from the Governor's Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Recovery. At a news conference afterwards, Sununu said the position has been vacant for too long, given the
severity of the opioid epidemic. "This is an important position. It's vital, something everyone is clamoring for. It crosses party lines. It's just an absolute necessity for the state."
Source: Manchester Union Leader on 2016 New Hampshire governor race
Mar 9, 2016
Chris Sununu:
Recovery Friendly Workplaces: help in fighting drugs
I want to take a moment and talk about Recovery Friendly Workplaces which hit a milestone last month. Through this program, we utilize the support of the business community to create workplaces that become part of an individual's recovery. As of today
63 businesses, with over 40,000 employees, have signed up to join the initiative. We are taking whole new approaches to fighting addiction. Public sector, private sector, you name it. We have innovative solutions and the country is taking notice.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to New Hampshire legislature
Jan 3, 2019
Colin Van Ostern:
Health Protection Plan for addiction treatment services
On the state Executive Council, Colin cast the deciding vote to bring health care coverage to nearly 44,000 New Hampshire citizens --
including addiction treatment services to thousands --by implementing the bipartisan New Hampshire Health Protection Plan (sometimes called Medicaid Expansion).
Source: 2016 New Hampshire gubernatorial website VanOstern.com
Jul 20, 2016
Colin Van Ostern:
Legalize medical marijuana for chronic pain
On medical marijuana: "Colin will work with legislators to ensure that the state's recently-implemented medical cannabis program doesn't restrict medically-sound usage for chronic pain conditions that are safely treated by the drug.
He will support legislation that would allow New Hampshire to join every other New England state in decriminalization."
Source: Ballotpedia.org on 2016 New Hampshire Gubernatorial race
Aug 31, 2016
Dan Feltes:
Regulate kratom and synthetic alkaloids
Feltes co-sponsored NH SB758; introduced 2/21/20, Regulating products containing kratom.Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:- This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Kratom Consumer
Protection Act."
- "Kratom product" means a food product or dietary ingredient containing any part of the leaf of the plant Mitragyna speciosa.
- No dealer shall prepare, distribute, or sell a kratom product containing any synthetic alkaloids
Source: BillTrack50 on New Hampshire legislative voting records
Feb 21, 2020
Dan Feltes:
Voted for legalized marijuana
Q: Legalize recreational marijuana?Dan Feltes: Yes. Voted for legalization: "both an economic and racial justice issue."
Chris Sununu: No. Opposes efforts to legalize.
Source: CampusElect survey on 2020 New Hampshire Gubernatorial race
Nov 3, 2020
Jeanne Shaheen:
Allow medical marijuana; but no recreational marijuana
In addition to opposing views on Obamacare and the economy, the two also addressed the issue of medical marijuana. "I think New Hampshire moved in a positive direction when it allowed medicinal marijuana," Shaheen said."The difference we have
on medicinal marijuana is I want to make sure it's an FDA-approved medicinal marijuana," Brown said. Both said they do not support changing the law on recreational use of marijuana.
Source: WMUR ABC-9 Manchester on 2014 New Hampshire Senate debate
Oct 7, 2014
Jim Rubens:
War on drugs is a flagrant $1 trillion policy failure
The global 50-year, $1 trillion war on drugs is a flagrant policy failure in urgent need of a thorough, evidence-based rethink. Here is what I've learned from the research and from my time as President of Headrest, a Lebanon-based drug and alcohol abuse
and suicide prevention and counseling center.- Supply interdiction drives up violence and drug supplier profits.
- Global illegal drug demand is now $320 billion annually.
- Since 2006, drug trade violence stemming largely from
U.S. demand has killed over 100,000 people in Mexico alone.
- Most drug overdose deaths in New Hampshire now involve fentanyl illegally manufactured in Mexico.
- U.S. taxpayers spent $7.5 billion in 2014 attempting to eradicate production of opium
(the raw material for heroin) in Afghanistan, yet cultivation there has reached record levels, supplying 3/4 of global demand and occupying a cultivated land area the size of Rhode Island, and providing a major source of funding for the Taliban.
Source: 2016 New Hampshire Senate campaign website JimRubens.com
Apr 1, 2016
Jim Rubens:
Legalize marijuana; drug-assisted treatment for opioids
For heroin, fentanyl and the opioids, we can learn from the eight European nations and Canada which operate "drug assisted treatment" programs, providing opioid receptor blocking drugs like Suboxone to addicts, administered in healthcare facilities or
clinics in combination with drug tests and counseling. The measured outcomes include sharp reductions in illegal drug use, drug crimes, disease, & overdose deaths.For marijuana, Congress should grant states the power to legalize and regulate as they
see fit like alcohol. I would then suggest (not mandate) that states require child-proof packaging and labels disclosing potency and health effects, including the fact that MJ use involves performance and brain developmental effects (though far less in
the aggregate than tobacco or alcohol). I would also suggest banning advertising & public use, licensing in-state wholesale producers, allowing personal production in limited quantities, and extending DUI laws to cover marijuana metabolite blood levels.
Source: 2016 New Hampshire Senate campaign website JimRubens.com
Apr 1, 2016
Jon Lavoie:
Fund heroin interdiction, but fund treatment too
Stopping the trafficking of heroin into our state should be our #1 priority, but it's a very difficult proposition. How do you stop something that can fit in someone's pocket? Our state and town police departments are doing everything they can to help
rid our state of harmful drugs like heroin. I believe the state government should aid them with whatever they may need to maximize their effectiveness in doing so. This will require some funding.
I believe that those who need help and want help, should have the opportunity to receive treatment. Proper pharmaceutical and behavioral treatment are typically required. As Governor, I would push to have medical insurance companies include
this treatment in their plans, some already do. For those without medical insurance, I am in favor of having the state provide funding for treatment.
Source: 2016 New Hampshire Governor campaign website, JonLavoie.org
Nov 4, 2015
Jon Lavoie:
Learn from Colorado and collect marijuana tax dollars
Colorado is banking $12 million per month from legalizing and taxing marijuana. Now let me preface this with the fact that I don't smoke anything. But we all know that buying marijuana these days is almost as easy as buying cigarettes or alcohol.
From everything I've read, it's less harmful than both. Colorado has come to the realization that it costs more to prosecute someone for marijuana possession than the fine brings in. Marijuana is easy to find, and I'm not even looking for it!
So CO made it legal and taxed it like tobacco and alcohol, and from what I've read, it seems to be going ok. We are the "Live Free or Die" state. Perhaps it's time to learn from Colorado and start collecting tax dollars on something that people are
going to do whether it's legal or not. All I ask is that you don't label me as the guy who wants to legalize pot. These are just ideas that I believe this state should take a serious look at.
Source: 2016 New Hampshire Governor campaign website, JonLavoie.org
Nov 4, 2015
Molly Kelly:
Help opioid users recover & rebuild
The devastating opioid epidemic is the biggest challenge our state faces. We need to help people suffering from substance misuse disorders to recover and rebuild their lives today;
support the first responders on the front lines of the epidemic, and do more to help people avoid this illness in the first place.
Source: 2018 New Hampshire Governor campaign website MollyKelly.com
Oct 9, 2018
Ray Metcalfe:
End the war on drugs
Q: Name some contentious issues which voters can depend on you to vote for?
A:- Ending the war on drugs
- Universal health care
- Ending corporate welfare
- Repealing the Patriot Act
- Power cost equalization
-
A judicial system that places a higher value on dispensing justice and getting it right than it places on winning for the sake of winning
Source: 2016 New Hampshire gubernatorial website Metcalfe4Senate.com
Nov 1, 2008
Scott Brown:
Restrict medical marijuana; and no recreational marijuana
In addition to opposing views on Obamacare and the economy, the two also addressed the issue of medical marijuana. "I think New Hampshire moved in a positive direction when it allowed medicinal marijuana," Shaheen said."The difference we have
on medicinal marijuana is I want to make sure it's an FDA-approved medicinal marijuana," Brown said. Both said they do not support changing the law on recreational use of marijuana.
Source: WMUR ABC-9 Manchester on 2014 New Hampshire Senate debate
Oct 7, 2014
Steve Marchand:
Suite of services to those in midst of opioid recovery
Q: What do you think needs to be done to tackle the opioid crisis?Marchand: We need to continue to provide the resources that continue to give a suite of services to those in the midst of recovery, beyond simply detoxification of the addictive
substance. Until recently, I think a lot of people in the world of politics saw recovery as largely detoxification. The reality is that if we simply just detoxify people and then we put folks back in a situation where addiction became the norm, the
likelihood of relapsing is really high. I priced it out last year in that it would be an additional $8 to 10 million a year of resources that would provide a level of stability for local and regional recovery centers.
I think it's a relatively low amount of money, that would improve lives, reduce costs, and directly address what New Hampshirites say is the most important issue facing us.
Source: N.H. Journal on 2018 New Hampshire gubernatorial race
Apr 24, 2017
Steve Marchand:
Legalize marijuana; tax it and regulate it
Q: You have previously discussed legalizing and taxing marijuana?Marchand: I do favor the legalization, regulation, and taxation of marijuana.
I do feel it would have a net positive impact in terms of lowering costs for law enforcement and judicial entities. I also think that it will improve health outcomes and reduce addiction rates, and it will generate revenue.
Source: N.H. Journal on 2018 New Hampshire gubernatorial race
Apr 24, 2017
Steve Marchand:
Fully fund drug courts & rehab instead of incarceration
Q: Let's talk about the state's response to the opioid crisis?A: The good news is that the solution is not a ton of money, necessarily. It is some legislative changes, it is more effective use of the state's database. Some of it, frankly, is
cultural. It requires that we have to be more aggressive in fully funding drug courts, to really get us in a position where we're not trying to punish and incarcerate, we're trying to rehabilitate and get towards recovery. And the wait list is where
the real problem is--we have 13 health zones in the state--in most of those we have a waiting list. We have people on a weekly basis dying, waiting on the waiting list. So I sat down with a bunch of people trying to start recovery centers around the
state, and did budgets with them. I asked them to price it out. The price tag? Smaller than you'd think--typically about $300,000-$500,000 a year on average, per recovery center. This is an $8-10 million initiative that I've been looking at.
Source: N.H. Public Radio on 2018 New Hampshire gubernatorial race
Apr 24, 2017
Steve Marchand:
Marijuana is not a gateway drug to other drugs
Q: Would you support decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, and if so, under what conditions?A: I favor the legalization of marijuana. First of all, I do not think it's a gateway drug to other drugs. Second, we have seen lots of
studies that we actually reduce use in certain groups. You legalize it, you regulate it, you tax it. We can actually help public health by reducing its use under 21 and doing it responsibly for those that, frankly, already doing it over the age of 21.
Source: N.H. Public Radio on 2018 New Hampshire gubernatorial race
Apr 24, 2017
Tom Sherman:
Ensure full range of services for substance use disorder
The opioid crisis continues to devastate our communities after six years of Governor Sununu. Dr. Sherman is committed to ensuring the availability of intake, treatment, and recovery services for substance use disorder. In the State Senate,
Dr. Sherman led the efforts to increase access to telemedicine and was a lead negotiator for the bipartisan Medicaid expansion legislation that was a critical tool to expanding medical coverage to those suffering from substance use disorder.
Source: 2022 New Hampshire Governor campaign web DrTomSherman.com
Mar 28, 2022
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023