NH Cannabis Association’s 2024 “Cannabis Reform Voter Guide” for the NH Governor and Senate General Election
NH General Election | November 5, 2024
If you have been paying attention at all the last few years, the NH Governor and Senate have proven time and again to be a significant hurdle in legalizing adult use cannabis in the Granite State. Fortunately, we have the ability to change the makeup of the NH Senate in the upcoming General Election in a manner that could finally favor the passage of common sense cannabis reform.
As such, we have compiled the following information to inform NH voters on where all of the respective NH Governor & Senate candidates stand in regard to cannabis reform. Please use and share this information with others so that we can all make informed decisions about who we want to truly represent the will of Granite Staters when it comes to cannabis.
NOTE: If you are new to the state, or have moved to a new district within the state, please reference these FAQs from Citizens Count to make sure you are ready to vote on November 5th 2024.
Color key for candidate’s expressed views or voting history on cannabis legalization:
- Green = supports cannabis legalization
- Orange = unknown or less supportive of cannabis legalization
- Red = opposed to cannabis legalization
NH GOVERNOR
Candidates:
- Joyce Craig (D) — publicly supports cannabis legalization and free market models and does not support liquor commission involvement. View our discussion with Joyce Craig here.
- Kelly Ayotte (R) — publicly opposed to cannabis legalization in any form. Read her comments from Marijuana Moment here.
NH SENATE
District 1
Candidates: (Open Seat)
- Rusty Talbot (D) — supports cannabis legalization with distributed economic opportunity
- David Rochefort (R) — support cannabis legalization with mix of state run and private stores
Represents: Atkinson-Gilmanton Grant, Bath, Benton, Berlin, Bethlehem, Cambridge, Carroll, Clarksville, Colebrook, Columbia, Dalton, Dix’s Grant, Dixville, Dummer, Easton, Ellsworth, Errol, Erving’s Location, Franconia, Gorham, Haverhill, Jefferson, Kilkenny, Lancaster, Landaff, Lisbon, Littleton, Low & Burbank’s Grant, Lyman, Milan, Millsfield, Monroe, Northumberland, Odell, Piermont, Pittsburg, Randolph, Rumney, Second College Grant, Shelburne, Stark, Stewartstown, Stratford, Success, Sugar Hill, Warren, Wentworth’s Location, Whitefield and Woodstock.
District 2
Candidates:
- Carolos Cardona (D) — Challenger; supports cannabis legalization
- Tim Lang (R) – Incumbent; supports cannabis legalization with state run stores and liquor commission involvement
Represents: Ashland, Belmont, Campton, Center Harbor, Gilford, Holderness, Laconia (Wards 1-6), Meredith, New Hampton, Sanbornton, Sandwich, and Thornton.
District 3
Candidates: (Open Seat)
- William Marsh (D) — supports cannabis legalization with state run stores
- Mark McConkey (R) — does not support cannabis legalization
Represents: Albany, Bartlett, Bean’s Grant, Bean’s Purchase, Brookfield, Chandler’s Pur., Chatham, Conway, Crawford’s Pur., Cutt’s Grant, Eaton, Effingham, Freedom, Green’s Grant, Hadley’s Purchase, Hale’s Location, Hart’s Location, Jackson, Lincoln, Livermore, Madison, Martin’s Location, Middleton, Milton, Moultonborough, Ossipee, Pinkham’s Grant, Sargent’s Purchase, Tamworth, Thompson & Mes’s Purchase, Tuftonboro, Wakefield, Waterville Valley, and Wolfeboro.
District 4
Candidates:
- Sen. David Watters (D) — Incumbent; supports cannabis legalization. Open to various approaches including state run
- Shawn Mickelonis (R) — Challenger; supports cannabis legalization. Opposes private run stores, favors state takeover model
Represents: Barrington, Dover (Wards 1-6), Rollinsford, and Somersworth (Wards 1-5).
District 5
Candidates:
- Sen. Suzanne Prentiss (D) — Incumbent; supports cannabis legalization. Opposes state takeover model but did vote for the state takeover model this year
- John McIntyre (R) — Challenger; does not support cannabis legalization
Represents: Canaan, Cornish, Dorchester, Enfield, Grantham, Groton, Hanover, Lebanon (Wards 1-3), Lyme, New London, Orford, Plainfield., Plymouth, Springfield, and Wentworth.
District 6
Candidates:
- John Ceskavich (D) — Challenger; supports cannabis legalization
- Sen. James Gray (R) — Incumbent; does not support cannabis legalization
Represents: Alton, Farmington, Gilmanton, New Durham, and Rochester (Wards 1-6), and Strafford.
District 7
Candidates:
- Stu Green (D) — Challenger; supports cannabis legalization. Is leaning away from state takeover model
- Sen. Dan Innis (R) — supports cannabis legalization. Has stated opposition to state run stores but voted for state takeover model in 2024
Represents: Alexandria, Andover, Boscawen, Bradford, Bridgewater, Bristol, Danbury, Franklin (Wards 1-3), Goshen, Grafton, Hebron, Henniker, Hill, Hillsborough, Newbury, Orange, Salisbury, Sutton, Tilton, Warner, Webster, and Wilmot.
District 8
Candidates:
- David Trumble (D) — Challenger; supports cannabis legalization. Open to combination of state run and private retail stores.
- Sen. Ruth Ward (R) — Incumbent; does not support cannabis legalization
Represents: Acworth, Antrim, Bennigton, Charlestown, Claremont (Wards 1-3), Croydon, Deering, Dunbarton, Francestown, Gilsum, Langdon, Lempster, Marlow, Newport, Stoddard, Sunapee, Unity, Washington, Weare and Windsor.
District 9
Candidates:
- Matthew McLaughlin (D) — Challenger; supports cannabis legalization
- Sen. Denise Ricciardi (R) — Incumbent; does not support cannabis legalization
Represents: Bedford, Fitzwilliam, Greenfield, Hinsdale, Jaffrey, Lyndeborough, Mont Vernon, New Boston, Richmond, Sharon, Temple, Troy, and Winchester.
District 10
Candidates:
- Sen. Donovan Fenton (D) — Incumbent; supports cannabis legalization. Voted for both private retail and state takeover models
- Richard Merkt (R) — Challenger; does not support cannabis legalization as a priority. Is open to considering bills if presented
Represents: Alstead, Chesterfield, Dublin, Hancock, Harrisville, Keene (Wards 1-5), Marlborough, Nelson, Peterborough, Roxbury, Sullivan, Surry, Swanzey, Walpole, and Westmoreland.
District 11
Candidates:
- Sen. Shannon Chandley (D) — Incumbent; supports cannabis legalization. Supported private and state takeover models
- Tim McGough (R) — Challenger; does not support cannabis legalization with any retail sales
Represents: Amherst, Merrimack, Milford, and Wilton.
District 12
Candidates:
- Ben Ming (D) — Challenger; supports cannabis legalization. Voted for free market bills and voted against taking the state takeover bill off the table in the committee of conference this year
- Sen. Kevin Avard (R) — Incumbent; does not support cannabis legalization
Represents: Brookline, Greenville, Hollis, Mason, Nashua (Wards 1, 2, 5), New Ipswich, and Rindge.
District 13
Candidates:
- Sen. Cindy Rosenwald (D) — Incumbent; supports cannabis legalization. Has voted for private and state takeover models
- Stephen Scaer (R) — Challenger; does not support cannabis legalization
Represents: Nashua (Wards 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9).
District 14
Candidates:
- Kara Roy (D) — Challenger; supports cannabis legalization
- Sen. Sharon Carson (R) — Incumbent; does not support cannabis legalization
Represents: Auburn, Hudson and Londonderry.
District 15
Candidates: (Open Seat)
- Tara Reardon (D) — supports cannabis legalization
- Pamela Ean (R) — softer support for cannabis legalization. Unsure on private versus state takeover model
Represents: Bow, Concord (Wards 1-10), and Hopkinton.
District 16
Candidates:
- Mike York (D) — Challenger; views on cannabis legalization unknown
- Sen. Keith Murphy (R) — Incumbent; supports cannabis legalization. Voted for state takeover model this year
Represents: Candia, Goffstown, Hooksett, Manchester (Ward 1), and Raymond.
District 17
Candidates:
- Kelly Roberts (D) — Challenger; supports cannabis legalization
- Sen. Howard Pearl (R) — Incumbent; supports cannabis legalization. Voted against free market bill in 2023 and voted for state takeover model this year
Represents: Allenstown, Barnstead, Canterbury, Chichester, Deerfield, Epsom, Loudon, Northfield, Northwood, Nottingham, Pembroke, and Pittsfield.
District 18
Candidates:
- Sen. Donna Soucey (D) — Incumbent; supports cannabis legalization. Voted for both free market and state takeover bills
- Victoria Sullivan (R) — Challenger; supports cannabis legalization and free market models. Opposes state run stores
Represents: Litchfield and Manchester (Wards 5, 6, 7, 8, 9).
District 19
Candidates:
- Sen Regina Birdsell (R) — Incumbent; does not support cannabis legalization
- Michelle Moge (D) — Challenger; supports cannabis legalization
Represents: Derry, Hampstead and Windham.
District 20
Candidates: (Open Seat)
- Pat Long (D) — supports cannabis legalization, however, voted against legalization in prior years
- Brittany Ping (R) — supports cannabis legalization. Supported the state takeover bill this year
Represents: Manchester (Wards 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12).
District 21
Candidates:
- Sen. Rebecca Perkins Kwoka (D) — Incumbent; supports cannabis legalization. Voted for free market and state takeover models
- Don Cardinale (R) — Challenger; views on cannabis legalization unknown
Represents: Durham, Lee, Madbury, New Castle, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, and Portsmouth (Wards 1-5).
District 22
Candidates:
- Wayne Haubner (D) — Challenger; supports cannabis legalization
- Sen. Daryl Abbas (R) — Incumbent; supports cannabis legalization> Voted against the 2023 free market bill and was the chief supporter of the state takeover model in the Senate this year
Represents: Atkinson, Pelham, Plaistow, and Salem.
District 23
Candidates:
- Brenda Oldak (D) — Challenger; supports cannabis legalization. Is open to free market and state takeover models
- Sen. Bill Gannon (R) — Incumbent; does not support cannabis legalization
Represents: Brentwood, Chester, Danville, East Kingston, Epping, Fremont, Kensington, Kingston, Newton, Sandown, Seabrook, and South Hampton.
District 24
Candidates:
- Sen. Debra Altschiller (D) — Incumbent; supports cannabis legalization. Voted for free market and state takeover models
- Patrick Abrami (R) — Challenger; does not support cannabis legalization
Represents: Exeter, Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, North Hampton, Rye, and Stratham.
DOWNLOAD THE NH SENATE CANNABIS REFORM VOTING GUIDE HERE!
NH HOUSE CANDIDATES
There are 400 members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Your best bet is to check with Citizens Count, conduct some online research or reach out to your candidates.
DISCLAIMER: Due to election laws we do not officially endorse political candidates or incumbent legislators. This content should not be misconstrued as an official endorsement. The following information is for educational purposes only.
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