An adult-use cannabis legalization bill, HB 1633, is expected to pass the New Hampshire House of Representatives this Thursday. Last week, the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee voted to approve the bill in a 17-3 vote.
Before they voted on HB 1633, the committee spent three weeks working on amendments aimed at improving the bill’s chances. The bill’s lead sponsor, Rep. Erica Layon, collaborated with committee members and stakeholders in an effort to reach a workable compromise that could pass the Senate and be signed by the governor. Here’s an article with more information.
Rep. Anita Burroughs, a cosponsor, expressed thoughts that are shared by many advocates before the committee vote. “While it’s not 100% of what anybody wants, we’re taking a crapshoot if we don’t pass it this year,” she said. “We don’t know who’s coming into the governor’s office, we don’t know… who’s going to be in the majority.”
We will share additional details after the House vote.
Therapeutic Cannabis Bills Move Forward
Today, the House Ways and Means Committee voted 19-0 to recommend passage of HB 1278. The bill would allow therapeutic cannabis certifications for any medical condition or symptom if the provider believes the potential benefits outweigh the risks for the patient. HB 1278 has already passed the House once, and it is now clearly on track to advance to the Senate.
Last week, the House Committee on Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs voted 18-2 to recommend passage of HB 1581. This bill would allow ATCs to operate a second cultivation location, which could be a greenhouse. (Currently, New Hampshire ATCs may only grow indoors, which contributes to higher costs for therapeutic cannabis.) Next, the bill will receive a vote in the full House of Representatives.
Finally, these four bills are scheduled for votes tomorrow in the House Committee on Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs:
- HB 1231 (Thomas) – permitting qualifying patients and designated caregivers to cultivate cannabis for therapeutic use.
- HB 1240 (Howard) – adding eating disorders as qualifying conditions for therapeutic cannabis.
- HB 1349 (Howard) – adding generalized anxiety disorder as a qualifying condition for therapeutic cannabis.
- HB 1350 (Howard) – increasing the possession and 10-day purchase limit for patients and caregivers from 2 ounces to 4 ounces (matching the possession limit in the adult-use legalization bill).
