New Hampshire’s House of Representatives passed a bill to legalize and regulate marijuana for adult use. The New Hampshire House of Representatives has passed a bill that would legalize and regulate adult-use marijuana. Chris Sununu, R.
The House of Representatives approved HB 1633 on Thursday by a vote of 239 to 141. It was sponsored by Rep. Erica Layon. In its current format, the bill would allow adults aged 21 and over to purchase marijuana at up to 15 licensed shops across the state. The proposal would allow possession of up to 4 ounces cannabis, 10 grams concentrate or 2,000 micrograms THC in any other form.
The bill departs from the Sununu-supported state-run model and does not include the prohibition on lobbying for the industry, which his office had urged legislators to include in late last year. Layon said that the aspects of Sununu’s preferred method could expose him to legal liability.
She has spent the last few weeks trying to reach a consensus with her Senate counterparts, as well as members of a study commission that was convened by the state to draft its own legalization legislation, a task that did not complete before December.
Layon stated before the vote on the House floor that “there are a lot people who use cannabis in the state.” “I don’t believe that the number will increase by much if this bill passes.”
She said, “We are concerned about people who buy it on the blackmarket and are buying product that is contaminated with fentanyl due to poor product handling.” “Cannabis has arrived.” “Cannabis is here.
Some lawmakers criticized Layon for his recent attempts to draft a consensus-based bill.
New Hampshire lawmakers should not pass a marijuana law now. Rep. Tim Cayhill, a Republican, said that this bill is more than marijuana-related. “This bill also addresses mental health.” This bill also includes a section on supporting law enforcement. This bill also addresses homelessness. “There are many reasons why New Hampshire should not pass marijuana legislation.”
Layon’s negotiations were the basis for the amendment that the House approved before voting on the bill.
Rep. Jonah Wheeler, (D), urged legislators to reject the committee amendment. He said it was a “fundamental” change to the bill he cosponsored.
He said: “If the amendment passes and the bill is passed as amended, a person who wants to buy cannabis recreationally will need to visit one of 15 state-approved agency stores and purchase cannabis from a distributor sanctioned by the state.” “That’s not free market.”
Layon replied by saying that she acknowledges “the challenges outlined by my colleague”, but added that any plan must pass muster with the Senate and the Governor in order for legalization to become law.
She said: “Our question is, do we pass a bill that makes us all happy in the free market or do we do something that actually meets the outline that has been laid out to allow legalization in New Hampshire to occur and to stop us being an island of prohibition?”
She said, “It is a compromise.” “Every person sitting here can find an argument to vote against this amendment or against the bill. The question is: Does passing this bill have any net benefits for the state?
The amendment of the committee was adopted with a vote 263 to 116.
The measure will be sent to the Finance Committee of the House and then back to the House for a final vote before it is sent to the Senate.
The Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee passed the amendment last week with a 17-3 bipartisan vote. The chair of the committee, John Hunt (R), who was a member last year’s study panel, warned Layon when the bill first arrived that it would die on arrival if she did not get the support of Senate legislators.
Anita Burroughs, a Democratic Representative, wrote in a majority report to the House Committee that the legislation will initially open 15 retail stores. However, additional licenses may be granted later. The report states that it sets strict limits for products and sales. It focuses on the transition to a legal market.
The report states that “many years of hard work has led to this effort. It focuses the State of NH’s efforts on harm reduction and not profits and allows it to control access and distribution through state laws and administrative rules as well as local control.” The legalization of marijuana will shift production and sales away from the illegal, often dangerous market and into legal businesses. This will allow for regulation and control.
Burroughs stated before the committee vote last week that the bill “is not 100 percent what anyone wants,” but warned that the state would be “taking a gamble” if it isn’t passed this year, given the November election.
In contrast to most states, all general advertising, including billboards, social media, and other forms of mass communication, would be outlawed. Layon said that advertisements on marijuana-specific platforms such as Weedmaps would be permitted to help consumers find stores.
Companies would not be allowed to use slang or promote excessive consumption of marijuana, such as by using a logo that shows someone with bloodshot eyeballs. Regulators could also limit the names of businesses and other marketing.
The plan allows for a limited number of vaporizers, but also allows for regulators to ban “types” that are more likely to be used by minors, without detection.
Layon’s plan would also allow people to request that their criminal records be wiped clean if they were charged with possession of a lesser amount than was legal following the changes. She said in an earlier statement that she has been talking with ACLU officials about the issue.
Rep. Lilli (R) Walsh, a Republican member of the committee who opposed the bill, wrote in a minority report that “the proposal is still not ready or appropriate for citizens of New Hampshire.”
The report states that “introducing drastic cultural changes, increased healthcare costs and significant social impact is not in state’s best interest.” The report states that “additionally, there is no clear answer to the question of whether or not the state’s actions would conflict with federal laws, specifically in relation to the sale and distribution a federally-controlled substance.”
Several outside voices have also criticised certain elements of this bill. ACLU of New Hampshire Executive director Devon Chaffee stated in committee that she is opposed to how the new changes would penalize public use of marijuana.
As the bill progresses, however, some observers are grateful for Layon’s leadership in bringing people of different opinions together.
Matt Simon, Director of Public and Government Relations at medical marijuana provider GraniteLeaf Cannabis told Marijuana Moment, “I think the bill is in a better place overall than I imagined it a few weeks back.” “Rep. Layon did a great job in talking to everyone, including senators and the governor’s offices.
He added that “she spent a great deal of time on this, trying to understand the study commission’s wants and understanding what possible objections might be…and trying come up with an actual compromise which can find the sweet spot.”
(Disclosure – Simon supports Marijuana Moment via a Patreon monthly pledge.
In recent sessions, the House has passed numerous legalization bills only to have them stalled in the Senate.
Last session, lawmakers worked on marijuana reform and tried to find a compromise. They wanted to legalize the drug through a system with multiple levels. This would include state controlled shops, dual licensing of existing medical cannabis dispensaries, and private businesses licensed by state agencies.
The legislature ultimately hit a deadlock on the complicated legislation that was being considered after Sununu’s surprise announcement of his support for state-run legalization.
The House defeated separately in May a separate marijuana legalization bill that was proposed as part a Medicaid expansion measure. In May, the Senate moved to introduce another piece of legislation which would have allowed designated caregivers and patients to grow up to 12 seedlings and three mature plants for their own therapeutic use.
After the Senate rejected reform bills in 2022 the House included legalization as an amendment to separate criminal law-related legislation, but this was also struck down by the opposing chamber.
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