State-Operated Drug Dealers Will Harm the Granite State
(CONCORD, NH) – In response to New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu’s push for state-operated pot shops passing the State Senate, Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action (SAM Action) President Dr. Kevin Sabet, a former White House drug policy advisor to Presidents Obama, Bush, and Clinton, issued the following statement about the consequences that await Granite State residents:
“New Hampshire lawmakers have consistently rejected Big Pot’s attempts to infiltrate the Granite State because they understood the risks of more drugs in their communities. The governor likes to tout New Hampshire’s ranking for public safety and economic opportunity, but has now backed high-potency psychoactive drugs that medical science links with depression, IQ loss, suicidality, psychosis, schizophrenia, and heart conditions, among other consequences. There was no need to do this.
“The data from pot-legal states has also consistently proven that these drugs are a disaster for public health and safety. State-sanctioned pot sales will inevitably lead to more drug use, crime, an explosion of the illicit drug market, and worsening of drugged driving incidents and fatalities.
“The industry has spent millions telling people that its products are safe, recreation and even medicine. They’ve told states it will be a windfall for revenue and social justice for marginalized communities. Facts and data demonstrate those are lies. A new, state-run bureaucracy to manage drug sales won’t change that. These are dangerous drugs that can have serious consequences for users of all ages. Governor Sununu thinks that government operated drug sales will mitigate risks. He’s wrong.
“A state-operated commercial market, while not full-scale commercialization, still only serves the interest of Big Pot and its Big Tobacco, Alcohol, and Pharma investors. While many of the provisions included in the Senate’s bill will help curtail the addiction-for-profit industry’s predatory practices, state-operated pot shops will still offer the dangerous high-potency products the industry is using to hook a new generation of users, especially young people. Governor Sununu lacked the courage to lead here and he will bear the responsibility when New Hampshire goes the way of other states thar embrace more illegal drugs.”
Sabet’s comments were echoed by former State Representative Susan Homola, chair of SAM New Hampshire. “Commercialization of marijuana is going to be a disaster for our state. Pro-pot forces are already planning how to spend the supposed revenue, despite state after state proving that commercial pot sales are a net loser for local governments because of the increased public health costs for communities. Our neighbors in Maine are facing an onslaught of illicit grow operations that will unquestionably expand into our state. For those reasons and more, Governor Sununu and the Legislature should prioritize community health and safety ahead of their desire for a new addiction tax,” Homola said.
###