The New Hampshire House of Representatives voted 272 to 109 to pass a bill to finally legalize and tax cannabis on April 6.
According to the bill’s text, HB 639 “establishes procedures for the legalization, regulation, and taxation of cannabis; the licensing and regulation of cannabis establishments; and makes appropriations therefor.”
It is about time that the government of New Hampshire took action to make cannabis legal. Being the only state in New England where recreational marijuana use remains illegal is isolating, primitive and prejudiced.
Regardless of anyone’s view on drugs, it is very concerning that we as a collective have decided to ban the personal use of drugs.
The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 and “Reefer Madness” are based on laws to hurt the hemp industry and are rooted in anti-Mexican prejudice, in the same way that the first antidrug laws in the United States were anti-opium laws in the 1870s, which were rooted in anti-Chinese prejudice. An article written by Stephen Stiff of Ohio State University stated, “The fact that marijuana smoking was a habit of immigrants and the lower class clearly played a role in its prohibition. The association of murder, torture, and mindless violence with marijuana was not borne out by evidence or actual events but blossomed thanks to the vivid imaginations of the journalists charged with sensationalizing the tired story of drug use and addiction.”
Although people opposing drugs in modern times might not hold these sentiments, it is concerning that we are still holding on to laws rooted in racism. It is absolutely disgusting to stereotype an entire race of people and view them all as drug users.
Laws with historic ties to racism and classism have no place in modern society. New Hampshire deserves better; the “Live Free or Die” state still does not have legal marijuana, but times are changing. People are waking up to the idea that people should have bodily autonomy. If someone wants to use drugs and is not hurting anyone else, there should be no limitation with them taking the drugs.
Dan Tuohy from New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) wrote, “Anyone 21 and older would be allowed to possess up to 4 ounces of cannabis in plant form, 20 grams of concentrated cannabis products, such as those used for vaping, and products containing no more than 2,000 milligrams of THC.”
Though HB 639 passed in the New Hampshire House, it still needs to pass the New Hampshire Senate and be signed by Gov. Chris Sununu for marijuana to become legal. All I can say is that it is about time that we stop living in the past and embrace change. To all of those celebrating April 20, I wish you the best. The vote to pass HB 639 is a monumental step in the direction of progress.
We should all say no more to laws designed to oppress people, especially people of color and the impoverished. I feel that as long as you are not behind the wheel of a car, you should be able to do whatever drug you want. You are responsible for what goes into your own body alone, no one else should be responsible for that decision.
Nico Brazill can be contacted at
nbrazill@kscequinox.com
