Taylor Barry

It is a known fact that charges of possession of marijuana disproportionately affect People of Color on top of those of lower socioeconomic status. While cannabis is decriminalized in NH, possession charges present themselves in the form of fines and notes on civil records. Employers and schools look at these civil records when making decisions. Therefore, possession charges directly prohibit upwards socioeconomic trajectory, which is the foundation upon which this country was founded, among the marginalized. This injustice must be rectified. Hence, cannabis must be legalized. There is only other important reason why cannabis must be legalized. It has to do with economics. There lies within legalization immense opportunity for New Hampshire's economy to grow. Look at states like Colorado and Massachusetts. After marijuana was legalized, their economies boomed. The same thing can happen to New Hampshire if cannabis was legalized. After all, there is the demand for it. The revenue that the state earns in cannabis sales can then be put towards addiction recovery, education, and social services. Due to the opioid epidemic in the state, these services are more important than ever.