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ADMINISTRATION, DON’T LEGALIZE MARIJUANA HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. MIKE C: WMUR POLITICAL DIRECTOR ADAM SEXTON REPORTS, THAT THOSE IN FAVOR OF LEGALIZATION, SAY HIS ARGUMENT IS AN OLD ONE ADAM: HE WAS U.S. DRUG CZAR FOR SEVEN YEARS UNDER PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH. NOW JOHN WALTERS IS JOINING THE FIGHT AGAINST THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. >> I’VE LOOKED INTO THE EYES OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO’VE BECOME VICTIMS OF SUBSTANC ABUSE. IT ALMOST ALWAYS BEGINS WITH CANNABIS, AND THE CANNABIS TODAY IS A MORE DANGEROUS AND MO DEPENDENCY PRODUCING SUBSTANCE. ADAM WALTERS CONTENDS THAT A MORE RELAXED APPROACH TO MARIJUANA POLICY SINCE THE END OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION HAS ONLY YIELDED MORE ADDICTION. >> WHEN YOU DO THE RIGHT THING , YOU MAKE THESE PROBLEMS SMALLER. WHEN YOU LET IT GO, AND UNFORTUNATELY AFTER WE LEFT, THERE WAS A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE, THERE WAS MISINFORMATION GIVEN THAT THIS WASN’T REALLY A SERIOUS THREAT. THERE WAS AN UNWILLINGNESS TO ENFORCE THE LAW. ADAM: LOCAL SUPPORTERS OF LEGALIZATION SAY THE FORMER DRUG CZAR IS MAKING AN OUTDATED ARGUMENT. >> FORMER DRUG CZAR WALTERS HERE SAYING THE SAME THING HE’S BEEN SAYING FOR DECADES, BUT HE’S DEFENDING POLICIES THA HAVE FAILED OUR COUNTRY AND THE PEOPLE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. ADAM: PRO-CANNABIS GROUPS BEGAN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH GREAT OPTIMISM. THEIR LEGALIZATION BILL PASSED THE HOUSE, BUT TWO FLOOR VOTES SHOWED DIMINISHING SUPPORT, AND OPPONENTS IN THE SENATE DON’ WANT TO RELY ON THE GOVERNOR’S THREATENED VETO. >> THERE’S NO GOOD THAT COMES OUT OF THIS. ADAM: WELL CANNABIS LEGALIZATION IS PART OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE DEMOCRATIC PARTY PLATFORM, IT’S POSSIBLE SENATE DEMOCRATS WILL TAKE A MORE CAUTIOUS AND CONSERVATIVE APPROACH. BUT LONG TIME LEGALIZATION ADVOCATES ARE NOT TOO WORRIED YET. >> I THINK CHANGE IS NOT EASY, BUT THE PAST 80 YEARS WE’VE FOUND A POLICY THAT’S JUST BEEN A FAILURE. AD

Advertisement Former drug czar speaks out against marijuana legalization in NH Supporters of legalization say former Bush administration using outdated arguments Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A former U.S. drug czar is warning Granite Staters against legalizing marijuana.John Walters was drug czar for seven years under President George W. Bush. The former top anti-drug official said Tuesday that New Hampshire shouldn't join other states in legalizing marijuana."I've looked into the eyes of thousands of people who've become victims of substance abuse, and it almost always begins with cannabis, and the cannabis today is a more dangerous and more dependency-producing substance," he said.Walters claimed that a more relaxed approach to marijuana policy since the end of the Bush administration has only led to more addiction. "When you do the right thing, you make these problems smaller," he said. "When you let it go -- unfortunately, after we left, there was a failure to maintain pressure. There was misinformation given that this wasn't really a serious threat. There was an unwillingness to enforce the law."New Hampshire supporters of legalization said the former drug czar is making an outdated argument."Former drug czar Walters is here saying the same thing he's been saying for decades, but he's defending policies that have failed the people of our country and failed New Hampshire," said Matt Simon of the Marijuana Policy Project.Pro-cannabis groups began the legislative session with great optimism. A legalization bill passed the House, but two floor votes showed diminishing support, and opponents in the Senate don't want to rely on the governor's threatened veto."There's no good that comes out of this," said state Sen. Bob Giuda, R-Warren.While cannabis legalization is part of the New Hampshire Democratic Party platform, it's possible that Senate Democrats could take a more cautious and conservative approach, but longtime legalization advocates aren't worried yet."I think change is not easy, but over the past 80 years, we've found a policy that's just been a failure," said Rep. Renny Cushing, D-Hampton.