Medical cannabis is legal in New Hampshire, but recreational use has only been decriminalized, not legalized. However, the New Hampshire Senate recently approved of a cannabis legalized bill in a 14-9 vote on May 16, and it’s the farthest that any cannabis legalization bill has reached to date.
If passed into law, House Bill 1633-FN-A would legalize adult-use cannabis for those over 21 years of age, and establish a regulatory framework. This includes a possession allowance limit set at four ounces of cannabis, 10 grams of concentrates, and non-concentrate products up to 2,000 mg THC. Currently, the bill allows for 15 adult-use dispensaries to open up throughout the state in order to avoid market oversaturation.
On May 16, Senators approved and rejected a variety of amendments. One change prevents cannabis business license owners from using their funds to lobby for cannabis legislation, and also bars those individuals from participating in “political activity” or contributing “funds to any entity engaged” in such activities. Another would present the question “Shall we allow the operation of cannabis establishments within the town or city?” to each municipality. A majority “yes” vote would permit retail outlets to open up, while a majority “no” vote would not permit stores to open, and the question cannot be asked again until three years have passed.
Another amendment from Sen. President Jeb Bradley, which he described as his most important amendment, would be to change the proposal of an “advisory board” to that of a “cannabis control commission” in charge of approving rules and regulations. “If we’re going to protect public health, if we’re going to protect the kids in the state of New Hampshire, this board needs to be turned into a control commission,” said Bradley. “Everybody knows I don’t like this bill because of the public health implications. We …
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Author: Nicole Potter / High Times
