2016 NH Governor's race: on Drugs


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

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

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

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

Ray Metcalfe: End the war on drugs

Source: 2016 New Hampshire gubernatorial website Metcalfe4Senate.com Nov 1, 2008

  • The above quotations are from 2016 New Hampshire Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Drugs.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
Candidates and political leaders on Drugs:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R)
Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R)
Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 09, 2018