URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v16/n639/a08.html
Newshawk: Herb Couch
Votes: 0
Pubdate: Mon, 10 Oct 2016
Source: Boston Herald (MA)
Copyright: 2016 The Boston Herald, Inc
Contact:
Website: http://www.bostonherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53
Author: Hillary Chabot
Page: 17
POT USERS FACE STONY RECEPTION IN GRANITE STATE
Granite State cops are bracing for a potential influx of doped-up drivers and pot-smoking teens – even without a marijuana legalization question on the New Hampshire ballot – as Massachusetts and Maine voters could legalize the herb in November.
“You’re going to have more instances of drugged driving, and it’s going to cost the state more money because of the increase in law enforcement and prosecution,” said Dalton, N.H., police Chief John Tholl, who is also a state representative opposed to marijuana legalization. “It’s just going to be a burden on the legal system.”
New Hampshire lawmakers attempted to decriminalize marijuana last spring, but like several earlier attempts it was killed in the state Senate. Despite growing support from legislators and even gubernatorial candidates Republican Chris Sununu and Democrat Colin Van Ostern, an increase in opioid overdose deaths has left the state legislature reluctant to decriminalize.
Meanwhile, polls in both Maine and Massachusetts indicate that the majority of voters back marijuana legalization. That could leave New Hampshire law enforcement grappling with a surge of pot users coming from the north and south.
Fifty-three percent of Bay State voters support legalization and 40 percent oppose, according to a UMass Amherst/WBZ poll released Sept. 29. Ballot question 4 would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of cannabis, keep up to 10 ounces of marijuana at home, and grow up to six plants.
Attorney General Maura Healey, who is against legalization, told Herald Radio last week that law enforcement will most certainly be dealing with an increase in drugged driving.
“I get really concerned about people driving under the influence and what that means in terms of public safety on the roads,” said Healey, who noted that deaths as a result of drugged driving doubled last year after Washington state legalized marijuana.
John Borghesani, the communications director for the Yes on 4 campaign, argued that the increase in tax collection from pot sales in states like Colorado and Washington has covered any law enforcement costs.
“We think there will be more than adequate revenue to fund the administration of the initiative and have some left over to go to the taxpayers,” said Borghesani.
Maine’s ballot question would allow people over 21 to have 2.5 ounces of marijuana and they can grow up to six plants. A University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll found that 53 percent of likely voters in Maine support legalization and 38 percent oppose it.
MAP posted-by: Matt