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No 'state of emergency' for heroin

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This week Gov. Maggie Hassan denied Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas’ request to declare a state of emergency due to the heroin epidemic.

Under state law, the Governor can declare a state of emergency for no more than 21 days. That declaration gives the Governor power over all emergency management forces, allows the Governor to order evacuations, and lets the Governor procure goods and services outside the existing state budget.

"At this point in time I am asking that you declare a Public Health Emergency, just as you did with 'spice' nearly a year ago," Gatsas wrote in a letter to Hassan. "This will further raise visibility surrounding the issue and mobilize any additional resources consistent with an emergency declaration."

"Spice" is a nickname for synthetic marijuana.

Hassan responded, "since heroin is already an illegal substance, declaring a state of emergency would not provide new powers to remove the drug from the street as the declaration did with spice. I agree with you that this epidemic is an emergency, but unfortunately not one that can be solved in 21 days."

Hassan also denied Gatsas’ request to use funds from a recent federal grant to establish a drug court in Manchester. Hassan said she conferred with the attorney general, who said the terms of the grant would not allow it to be used for the court. Hassan said her office is exploring other federal grants for establishing a drug court in Manchester.

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