I have maintained my position that in the near future, we shouldn’t legalize cannabis.
By William Skipworth, New Hampshire Bulletin
On Monday, President Donald Trump said his administration is considering reclassifying marijuana—a drug that’s been legalized for recreational use in a growing number of states over the past decade and a half.
Kelly Ayotte (R) said she would respect the federal government’s decisions, but that she does not plan to push for legalization at the state level in New Hampshire. Kelly Ayotte said she will respect the decisions of the federal government, but does not intend to pursue legalization in New Hampshire.
Ayotte said to reporters on Wednesday that she would have to follow federal law if federal laws changed. My position, however, has not changed. I believe that legalizing marijuana is a bad idea.
There are many reasons for her concern.
Ayotte explained that “as a mom, and as someone who was a prosecutor here, the quality of my life is what I’m concerned with.” Ayotte said, “They can’t quantify the impact of driving on road safety and mental health in youth.”
The police cannot measure marijuana levels in drivers’ systems, unlike alcohol. A breathalyzer is able to determine whether you are under the influence of the drug at any given time. Ayotte fears an increase in traffic accidents. She cites states where marijuana is legal for recreational purposes.
Indeed, a 2023 study from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health examined seven states that had legalized recreational marijuana and four saw a substantial increase in crash fatalities, with a 10 percent increase in motor vehicle accident deaths on average in those states.
Other studies have come to similar conclusions, though some marijuana advocates, including the Marijuana Policy Project, dismiss those concerns and argue other factors, such as distracted driving, not wearing seatbelts, and speeding, are bigger contributors to crash fatality increases, citing different (but older) studies.
Cannabis legalization advocates claim that marijuana is less harmful than hard drugs, legalization prevents people looking for the drug to enter the black markets and the end of criminal penalties will reduce the overincarceration.
New Hampshire currently prohibits the recreational use of marijuana, but permits its medicinal use. In the United States, marijuana is now legalized for both recreational and medicinal use in 39 states.
Ayotte stated, “I hope that if the federal laws change, they also address this core safety issue because it’s very important to me.”
New Hampshire Bulletin published this article first.