A growing majority of Granite Staters support loosening state laws on marijuana, according to a survey from WMUR and the University of New Hampshire.
Sixty percent of residents support legalizing marijuana. That’s up from 54 percent a year ago. Support is strongest among liberals, younger adults and non-churchgoers.
If it were legalized, an even bigger majority – 70 percent – favor selling pot at licensed outlets and taxing it, similar to the way the state sells alcohol.
And 72% support decriminalization, or ending jail time for getting caught with small amounts of the drug. That change is supported by sizeable majorities of Democrats, Independents and Republicans.
A bill to decriminalize marijuana failed to pass the state senate this year, and Governor Maggie Hassan had threatened to veto it.