The New Hampshire House passed eight cannabis-related bills earlier this year, but so far, none has made progress in the Senate. The Senate has already killed one bill, and two others have been “tabled” – this means they could still be revived and passed if a majority of the 24-member Senate votes to do so.
The two “tabled” bills are HB 51 and HB 53:
- HB 51 (Thomas) would enable ATCs to expand product offerings by utilizing affordable non-intoxicating cannabinoids (e.g. CBD, CBG, and CBN) derived from hemp. ATCs would be required to have hemp-derived cannabinoids tested by an independent lab before using them to make products for patients, to ensure safety. The House approved this bill in a unanimous vote without objection or debate. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 3-1 to recommend against this bill’s passage. It was tabled by the full Senate.
- HB 53 (Thomas) would allow home cultivation of therapeutic cannabis for qualifying patients and designated caregivers. The limit would be 3 mature plants, 3 immature plants, and 12 seedlings for each patient. The House passed this bill by a very large margin, 328-42. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 3-1 to recommend against this bill’s passage. The Senate tabled this bill after deadlocking 12-12 in an initial vote.
Senate Will Vote on Three Bills This Thursday
The Senate is scheduled to vote on three bills, including a simple legalization bill, on Thursday, May 1. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 3-2 to recommend against passing all three of these bills:
- HB 190 (Howard) would increase the purchase and possession limit for therapeutic cannabis from 2 ounces to 4 ounces. The House passed it in a voice vote.
- HB 198 (Sullivan) would legalize possession of up to two ounces of cannabis for adults. It would also establish civil penalties for public smoking or vaping (a 3rd offense within 5 years could be charged as a misdemeanor). The House passed it 208-125.
- HB 380 (Vail) would eliminate the extra felony penalty for diverting therapeutic cannabis. (Selling cannabis is a felony for anybody in N.H., so patients could face two felony charges for the same offense.) The House passed it in a voice vote.
In related news, a new poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center found that 70% of Granite Staters support legalization, while only 21% are opposed.
Two Other Bills Still Pending in Committee
Two additional bills are still pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee, and votes are expected soon:
- HB 301 (Vail) would allow ATCs to operate a second cultivation location, which would have to be a greenhouse, subject to all the rules and regulations that apply to current ATC production facilities. (Currently all cultivation must take place indoors.) The House passed it in a voice vote.
- HB 196 (Wheeler) would improve New Hampshire’s cannabis annulment law by removing the fee, allowing for a more streamlined process, and applying it to any misdemeanor and violation-level cannabis possession record from before January 1, 2025. The House passed it in a voice vote.
If you’d like to support any of these bills, the best thing to do is email or call your state senator. You can find your senator’s contact information by selecting your town from the drop-down box on this page.
Here are a few tips for writing an effective email to your state senator:
- Focus on sharing personal experiences that illustrate how the bills you are writing about would benefit you or others.
- Include the bill numbers for any bill you are asking them to support.
- Always be polite and respectful. Legislators do not respond favorably to insulting or belittling communications.
- Include your name and town so they will know you are a constituent.
Thank you for taking time to learn about the status of New Hampshire cannabis legislation!
