New Hampshire’s Senate Judiciary Committee has voted to recommend against a bipartisan bill to legalize possession of cannabis for adults, but there is still hope for the bill in a full Senate floor vote.
On April 15, the committee voted by 3-2 to deem House Bill 198 ‘inexpedient to legislate’, officially recommending its rejection by the full Senate when it is voted on in the coming weeks.
While this is a blow to the bill, which has already been passed in the House, it is only a recommendation, and a standard legislative procedure in the state. Although a recommendation is influential, it is not binding.
HB198 would legalize the possession of up to two ounces of cannabis flower, 10 grams of concentrate, or 2,000 milligrams of THC for adults aged 21 and over, but would not allow for commercial sales, public consumption, or home cultivation.
The bill is a scaled-back version of a broader legalization proposal that failed last year after lawmakers clashed over a state-run retail model. HB 198 intentionally sidesteps that debate by focusing solely on possession.
Supporters, including the Marijuana Policy Project, described the measure as modest and consistent with public sentiment. A June 2024 poll by the University of New Hampshire found that 65% of residents support adult-use legalization.
Notorious anti-cannabis activists Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) argued that the bill lacks necessary safeguards and would legitimize illicit market activity.
The post New Hampshire Committee Recommends Rejection of Cannabis Legalization Bill, But Hope Remains for Full Senate Vote appeared first on Business of Cannabis.
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On April 15, the committee voted by 3-2 to deem House Bill 198 ‘inexpedient to legislate’, officially recommending its rejection by the full Senate when it is voted on in the coming weeks.
While this is a blow to the bill, which has already been passed in the House, it is only a recommendation, and a standard legislative procedure in the state. Although a recommendation is influential, it is not binding.
HB198 would legalize the possession of up to two ounces of cannabis flower, 10 grams of concentrate, or 2,000 milligrams of THC for adults aged 21 and over, but would not allow for commercial sales, public consumption, or home cultivation.
The bill is a scaled-back version of a broader legalization proposal that failed last year after lawmakers clashed over a state-run retail model. HB 198 intentionally sidesteps that debate by focusing solely on possession.
Supporters, including the Marijuana Policy Project, described the measure as modest and consistent with public sentiment. A June 2024 poll by the University of New Hampshire found that 65% of residents support adult-use legalization.
Notorious anti-cannabis activists Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) argued that the bill lacks necessary safeguards and would legitimize illicit market activity.
The post New Hampshire Committee Recommends Rejection of Cannabis Legalization Bill, But Hope Remains for Full Senate Vote appeared first on Business of Cannabis.
Continue reading...
