Its Time to Legalize Marijuana in New Hampshire

Act Now

It is long overdue that New Hampshire end its harmful and costly war on marijuana.

Our state's continued enforcement of marijuana prohibition wastes valuable state resources and has life-changing negative consequences for those targeted for enforcement. Sold to Granite Staters in the name of public safety, New Hampshire's marijuana laws needlessly ensnare over a thousand people – disproportionately Black people – in its criminal justice system every year.

Arrests are not only a burden on our state's residents and judicial system but have lasting negative effects on a person's access to employment, housing, child custody, and more.

Our state's war on marijuana is a monumental waste of tax dollars (at a likely $2.6 million per year to enforce possession laws) and is enforced with a staggering racial bias. In 2020 Black people were 4.8 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession when compared with white people, despite similar usage rates.

The vast majority of Granite Staters – 74% – support marijuana legalization. It's past time for New Hampshire lawmakers to support the will of the people they represent and legalize marijuana possession by adults.

HB 639, a bill put together by a broad coalition including the ACLU of NH, would legalize recreational use of marijuana for adults over the age of 21.

There's no time to wait – tell your state senator and Governor Sununu to SUPPORT HB 639 and end New Hampshire's war on marijuana.

Message Recipients:
Governor Sununu
Your State Senator

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Subject

As your constituent, I urge you to support HB 639, the bill that would legalize the possession and use of marijuana for adults in New Hampshire.

Message Body

The overwhelming majority of Granite Staters like me support legalization- and the hard evidence all shows that it is past time for New Hampshire to legalize marijuana.

Enforcing our current laws is a drain on state resources and costs taxpayers $2.6 million each year. The war on marijuana is a monumental waste of taxpayer dollars that can be better spent elsewhere.

An arrest for marijuana can cause an immense amount of harm and ruin lives. It can impact a persons' ability to get or keep a job, child custody, housing, and more.

And, New Hampshire still enforces marijuana laws with a staggering racial bias, with Black Granite Staters most negatively impacted by these burdens. In 2020 Black people were 4.8 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession when compared with white people, despite both groups using marijuana at roughly the same rate. And, this disparity is on the rise, up from 2.6 times more likely to be arrested in 2010 – a 46 percent increase. These numbers are unacceptable, and New Hampshire needs change.

Please support HB 639 and make 2023 the year New Hampshire legalizes marijuana.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

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Its Time to Legalize Marijuana in New Hampshire

Act Now

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