NH House majority leader says cannabis legalization could be delayed for decade

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THE ISSUE COULD BE SIDELINED IN CONCORD FOR SEVERAL YEARS. HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER JASON OSBORNE HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN THE HIGHEST RANKING ELECTED OFFICIAL AT THE STATEHOUSE, ADVOCATING THE MOST FORCEFULLY FOR CANNABIS LEGALIZATION. BUT IN AN INTERVIEW FOR CLOSE-UP, THE AUBURN REPUBLICAN INDICATED HE IS DONE FIGHTING THAT FIGHT FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. YOU’VE BEEN OUT IN FRONT ON THE CANNABIS LEGALIZATION DEBATE. ARE WE GOING TO SEE YOU AS PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN THIS SESSION? TO ME, THAT SHIP HAS SAILED. I MEAN, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY WITH THE LAST GOVERNOR TO PUT THAT ISSUE BEHIND US AND AND FRANKLY, BLEW IT. SO I DON’T IMAGINE COMING BACK TO THAT FOR ANOTHER DECADE, PROBABLY. OSBORNE SAYS THE RETREAT ON LEGALIZATION IS SIMPLY A MATTER OF POLITICAL REALITY. THIS IS THE LIVE FREE OR DIE STATE. WHY IS IT THAT THIS ISSUE IS GOING BACKWARDS RIGHT NOW? I TO ME, YOU KNOW, WE ELECTED A GOVERNOR TO LEAD THE STATE, AND THAT IS NOT A PRIORITY FOR HER. AND SO THAT IS NOT A PRIORITY FOR ME OR THE REST OF US AT THIS POINT. EVEN IF A LEGALIZATION BILL MAKES IT OUT OF THE HOUSE THIS SESSION, IT IS NOT LIKELY TO FIND A WARM RECEPTION IN THE STATE SENATE. IT’S A BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. WE TRIED IT LAST SESSION AND IT FAILED. SO THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THAT ARE MUCH

“]] House Majority Leader Jason Osborne has traditionally been the highest-ranking elected official at the State House advocating the most forcefully for cannabis legalization.  Read More  

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