Election 2016

This well-researched article argues that marijuana legalization might be a "fix to the nation’s opioid problems."

Proponents of marijuana prohibition have long alleged that experimentation with pot acts as a “gateway” to the use and eventual abuse of other illicit substances. But the results of a just released national poll finds that most Americans no longer believe this claim to be true.

According to a recent survey, fewer than one in three US citizens agree with the statement, “the use of marijuana leads to the use of hard drugs.” Among those respondents under the age of 65, it is fewer than one in four.

This past legislative session, efforts to decriminalize marijuana failed in the NH Senate. During deliberations, senators stated that decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana will “send a confusing message as New Hampshire tries to fight a growing substance abuse problem.” However,

Surveys of cannabis consumers residing in jurisdictions where the plant is legally accessible find that respondents typically report decreasing their use of other drugs, such as alcohol and prescription opiates.

The majority of Granite Staters understand marijuana is NOT, and never has been, a "gateway drug." The blame for this confusing message lies squarely with government–for spreading negative, untruthful propaganda about the dangers of marijuana for almost a century, even as it is becoming increasingly available as medicine.

Now is the time for a bold new strategy to solve the heroin problem in New Hampshire. We can start by decriminalizing or legalizing marijuana, something 60-72% of New Hampshirites support.

When your senators care more about “perception” than facts, when they are willing to put people in jail because they think it might “look bad” or send “the wrong message,” they need to go.

Vote out these ignorant, old-fashioned dinosaurs, and let’s get to work to help those in need get well. As your senator, I will make marijuana decriminalization or legalization a priority. And, on top of that, this will help solve overincarceration and the opioid crisis, too.

Image: Screenshot of recent Union Leader poll.

I chose New Hampshire as my home because I am passionate about liberty and individual rights. Live free or die! (But rather not the latter!)

Born in South Africa under apartheid, I was raised in a diplomatic household, living in America, Sweden and Brazil as a youngster. I moved to the U.S. in 1996 after winning a green card in the Diversity lottery. I became a U.S. citizen in 2000.

I am a former attorney. I practiced law in South Africa where I worked on pro bono criminal defense cases for the underprivileged, which helped shape my views about criminal justice.

After moving to California, I worked in-house at Fortune 500 companies, starting as a paralegal at Apple while I took the California Bar Exam, then working for Logitech, and later, other tech startups in Silicon Valley.

After the dotcom bubble burst, my husband, Louis, and I backpacked through Southeast Asia, India and Africa. At the base camp of the 10th highest mountain in the world, Annapurna (see the pic I took–magnificent!), I had an epiphany: I no longer wanted to be a lawyer, I wanted to pursue my passion for writing, and serve a higher purpose. When we returned to America, I earned my M.F.A. in creative writing from The City College of New York.

In 2008, Louis and I moved to New Hampshire as part of Free State Project, a movement to attract 20,000 liberty activists to the Granite State. I twice organized the Porcupine Freedom Festival (a.k.a. PorcFest), one of the world’s largest liberty gatherings. I became president of the organization in 2011.

From 2008-2012, I also worked part-time at the New Hampshire Writers’ Project at Southern New Hampshire University. I started as the program manager, organizing NHWP’s flagship Writers’ Day event and other regional literary festivals, and left as acting executive director. I also volunteered for other literary organizations, and worked on Concord Reads for several years.

In 2014, acting as plaintiff, I won a landmark First Circuit Court of Appeals case affirming the 1st Amendment right to film police encounters. That same year, I was honored to be named one of New Hampshire Magazine’s “Remarkable Women”.

In early 2016, two years ahead of schedule, I oversaw “triggering the move” by securing the 20,000th FSP signer. As I always said I would, I then stepped down as president, but remain on the board as president emeritus.

Seeking new challenges, I joined the Foundation for New Hampshire Independence, a 501c3 educational nonprofit that educates Granite Staters about the benefits of peacefully seeking more independence from the federal government. Don’t let this scare you! It’s just about talking about new ideas and fresh approaches, while sticking to our Constitutional rights.

I write and speak on a variety of topics relating to individual rights, free markets, and liberty. I have been quoted in The Economist, Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, New York Times, Playboy, GQ, and elsewhere, and have appeared on CNN and WMUR.

In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, hiking, watching documentaries, reading, and traveling. I practice yoga and shooting, and I play a mean game of Scrabble. I am working on two books. I own a home in West Manchester, where I live with my husband of 24 years, and our rescued pooch, Nervous Nellie.

You can read more about my activism here.