Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Concord, NH - The Marijuana Policy Project of NH has published its voter guide for the September 2016 primary and endorsed two candidates for governor and one for U.S. Senate, according to a press statement. Candidates for governor, U.S. Senate, and state Senate were asked three questions about support for the removal of marijuana penalties for anyone over 21, regulation for marijuana sales and production for legal use of anyone over 21, and ability to grow marijuana for adults without penalties. After reviewing the responses received, the MPP is endorsing Democrat Steve Marchand, the former mayor of Portsmouth, in the primary, as well as state Rep. Frank Edlebut, R-Wilton, on the GOP side.
Marchand answered "yes" to all three questions. Democrats Colin Van Ostern and Mark Connolly did not respond to the survey but the MPP considered previous comments by those candidates in the endorsement. Derek Dextraze, a writer, and Ian Freeman, of Talk Free Live, both running as Democrats, also responded to the survey, with Dextraze answering "yes" to all three questions and Freeman offering a "no" to the regulation question.
On the Republican side, Edlebut answered "yes" to two of the questions and seemed open to the regulation question, according to Matt Simon of the MPP. Jon Lavoie, another Republican running, answered "yes" to all three questions. Chris Sununu didn't fill out the survey but has expressed support for decriminalization in the past. Simon, however, described both Jeanie Forrester and Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas as "total prohibitionists" and said, "if either one of them were elected governor, that would absolutely be terrible from a marijuana policy perspective."
Former state Sen. Jim Rubens, R-Hanover, has also been endorsed in his primary race challenging incumbent U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH.
"According to state Rep. Bill Gannon, who is running for state Senate, Ayotte interfered with passage of New Hampshire's decriminalization bill in 2015 at Gannon's request," Simon said. "The Marijuana Policy Project is proud to endorse Rubens in the Republican U.S. Senate primary against Ayotte."
Rubens, in a press statement, said that he favored, under the 10th Amendment of the United States Constitution, granting states the right to legalize, tax and regulate medical and recreational marijuana as each state may see fit.
"I'm proud to have the endorsement of the Marijuana Policy Project," Rubens said. "We need to end the nation's failed drug war and provide on-demand treatment for drug addiction."
Two state Senate candidates were also endorsed by the MPP: Joe Duarte, a Republican running in the Senate District 16 Republican primary — Bow, Candia, Dunbarton, Hooksett, and parts of Manchester — and Bob Goodman, another Republican, who is running for the District 23 state Senate seat — Brentwood, Chester, Danville, East Kingston, Epping, Exeter, Fremont, Kingston, and Sandown. Duarte has previously voted for decrim and also answered yes to the three questions; Goodman, Simon noted, was the only candidate in his race to respond to the survey and said he supported decrim.
In the District 24 state Senate race — Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Kensington, New Castle, North Hampton, Newton, Rye, Seabrook, Stratham, and South Hampton — only Stephen Kenda responded to the survey and indicated he supported decriminalization. Other candidates did not respond to the survey.
The full voter guide can be read here.
At 5:30 p.m. on July 25, 2016, Simon held an online question and answer session on Google Hangouts on Air, which was livestreamed on YouTube. Watch the video below.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Marijuana Policy Project Endorses Two For Governor
Author: Tony Schinella
Contact: Concord Patch
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Concord Patch
Marchand answered "yes" to all three questions. Democrats Colin Van Ostern and Mark Connolly did not respond to the survey but the MPP considered previous comments by those candidates in the endorsement. Derek Dextraze, a writer, and Ian Freeman, of Talk Free Live, both running as Democrats, also responded to the survey, with Dextraze answering "yes" to all three questions and Freeman offering a "no" to the regulation question.
On the Republican side, Edlebut answered "yes" to two of the questions and seemed open to the regulation question, according to Matt Simon of the MPP. Jon Lavoie, another Republican running, answered "yes" to all three questions. Chris Sununu didn't fill out the survey but has expressed support for decriminalization in the past. Simon, however, described both Jeanie Forrester and Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas as "total prohibitionists" and said, "if either one of them were elected governor, that would absolutely be terrible from a marijuana policy perspective."
Former state Sen. Jim Rubens, R-Hanover, has also been endorsed in his primary race challenging incumbent U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH.
"According to state Rep. Bill Gannon, who is running for state Senate, Ayotte interfered with passage of New Hampshire's decriminalization bill in 2015 at Gannon's request," Simon said. "The Marijuana Policy Project is proud to endorse Rubens in the Republican U.S. Senate primary against Ayotte."
Rubens, in a press statement, said that he favored, under the 10th Amendment of the United States Constitution, granting states the right to legalize, tax and regulate medical and recreational marijuana as each state may see fit.
"I'm proud to have the endorsement of the Marijuana Policy Project," Rubens said. "We need to end the nation's failed drug war and provide on-demand treatment for drug addiction."
Two state Senate candidates were also endorsed by the MPP: Joe Duarte, a Republican running in the Senate District 16 Republican primary — Bow, Candia, Dunbarton, Hooksett, and parts of Manchester — and Bob Goodman, another Republican, who is running for the District 23 state Senate seat — Brentwood, Chester, Danville, East Kingston, Epping, Exeter, Fremont, Kingston, and Sandown. Duarte has previously voted for decrim and also answered yes to the three questions; Goodman, Simon noted, was the only candidate in his race to respond to the survey and said he supported decrim.
In the District 24 state Senate race — Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Kensington, New Castle, North Hampton, Newton, Rye, Seabrook, Stratham, and South Hampton — only Stephen Kenda responded to the survey and indicated he supported decriminalization. Other candidates did not respond to the survey.
The full voter guide can be read here.
At 5:30 p.m. on July 25, 2016, Simon held an online question and answer session on Google Hangouts on Air, which was livestreamed on YouTube. Watch the video below.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Marijuana Policy Project Endorses Two For Governor
Author: Tony Schinella
Contact: Concord Patch
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Concord Patch
