New Hampshire Gubernatorial Challenger Cinde Warmington Endorses Adult-Use Legalization In Debate

Warmington Backs Legalization In Debate

Cinde Warmington, the Democratic challenger in New Hampshire’s governor race, said during a debate last week that she supports adult-use cannabis legalization in the state, The Dartmouth reports. Warmington is a former executive councilor. The debate took place on October 22.

During the debate, Warmington said that without legalized sales, cannabis would be purchased “on the street” and could be “laced with all sorts of toxins.” She added that a legal adult-use cannabis market would create an “additional revenue source” for New Hampshire.

“It is really odd that we are sending our citizenry over state lines and paying millions and millions, tens of millions of dollars, to our neighboring state in taxes when that revenue should be here in our state,” Warmington said during the October 22 debate, via The Dartmouth.

Cannabis legalization is included in Warmington’s platform. Her campaign website states that “New Hampshire should legalize, regulate, and tax adult-use cannabis. Granite Staters are already crossing the border and paying taxes to our neighboring states.”

Her campaign website adds that “a regulated system can provide consumer protections, keep revenue here in New Hampshire, and bring industry investment and jobs to our state.”

Ayotte Opposes Legalization

Incumbent Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R) said during the debate that she opposes cannabis legalization because of the potential impacts on youth. “The research is unbelievable, if you research about the impact on mental health of young brains,” Ayotte said during the debate.

“When you legalize something, you send a very different message to young people about the use of it,” Ayotte said during the debate.

In August 2025, after President Donald Trump (R) indicated his administration was considering reclassifying cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act, Ayotte said that were federal law to change, as governor, she would “have to comply with federal law” but that her position is that “we should not legalize marijuana in the future.”

“As a mother, as someone who worked as a prosecutor in this area, my concerns are quality of life,” Ayotte told the New Hampshire Bulletin. “The impact on the mental health of youth, and also they can’t measure it when it comes to road safety.”

Race Status

Ayotte currently has a 10-point polling lead in the race, according to the Pollsmax polling average. The election will determine New Hampshire’s next governor.

Warmington supports creating a regulated adult-use market, while Ayotte opposes legalization.

Warmington’s platform ties legalization to consumer protections, in-state revenue, and industry investment and jobs. Ayotte’s stated concerns focus on youth mental health and road safety.

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