New Hampshire’s top lawmakers have mixed reactions to the Governor’s support of legalizing marijuana through a state-run store system. Some say that it is unlikely for such legislation to be passed this year.
Gov. Chris Sununu revealed Friday that he has changed his mind about cannabis reform. But only if the shops are run by the state and not by private companies. This pivot was made just a day after the Senate rejected a House-passed bill legalizing commercial marijuana.
While Sununu said he would sign legislation to implement state-controlled legalization in this session, Senate president Jeb Bradley (R), on Monday, said that he didn’t want the process to be rushed.
He told WMUR TV that “doing it quickly doesn’t mean you are doing it right.” “I believe it is better for proponents of legislation to bring back a piece next year and vet it properly through public hearings. Work the process.” This is a better option for me than trying to ram something through this year.
Legalizaton of cannabis under state control (now backed by @GovChrisSununu) isn’t out of the question in the weeks ahead, but it’s looking less likely as @TheNHSenate President @SenJeb says he’s still a firm “no” & it’s better to fully vet this issue next year #NHPolitics #WMUR pic.twitter.com/wJJ9DotWlh
Adam Sexton 15 May 2023 HTML0
House Majority leader Jason Osborne, who sponsored the bill that was killed by the Senate to legalize marijuana using a conventional private model, had a more open mind about supporting legislation that aligned with the Governor’s proposal.
He said that on Friday, a separate House bill that ended cannabis criminalization and is still awaiting Senate floor action can theoretically be amended in order to include state-run regulation provisions. This could then advance the reform “if the Senate wants to.”
Osborne stated that a bill to establish state-run shops “could be passed this year” if the Senate sent it back to them for approval, but that he thought waiting until 2024 was too late.
Majority Leader @Osborne4NH has responded to the news that @TheNHSenate is willing to sign a cannabis legalization bill under state control. He says “it could be done this year” as long as @TheNHSenate takes the initiative. #NHPolitics #WMUR pic.twitter.com/FEGTO4Npgz
Adam Sexton (@AdamSextonWMUR 12 May 2023
Osbourne responded to a Tweet from Rep. Jared Sullivan, who suggested that lawmakers shouldn’t be “rushing” through a cannabis monopoly.
The majority leader stated that he could “see how this seems like a hurry if you haven’t been watching these bill get squashed every year, only to be told ‘put a Bill in next year. ‘”
He said, “It’s okay if you don’t want it put to bed right now.” “Don’t be surprised if we continue to do this in ten more years.”
I can understand why it would seem rushed if you hadn’t seen these bills being squashed year after year, only to be told: “Put a bill in for next year.”
It’s okay if you don’t want it put to bed right now. Don’t be surprised if we are still doing it in ten years.Jason Osborne 13 May 2023 HTML0
Last year, a bill passed by the House to legalize the state model through the legislation was defeated unanimously in the Senate. This casts further doubts on its ability to advance now that the Governor has opened the door.
Matthew Wilhelm, the House Minority leader (D), who was the other primary sponsor of the recently defeated legalization legislation, issued a statement in which he said that Sununu had “conveniently waited” until his legislation failed before “finally engaging on cannabis legalization”.
“The policy framework that Governor Sununu has proposed today is substantially different from what was debated by the House and Senate in the last four months,” he stated. Sununu may have a sudden and calculated desire to gain national attention on this issue, but we will still approach cannabis legalization in the thoughtful, methodical way Granite Staters deserve.
Sununu was asked if his support for legalization had anything to do with his anticipated run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. He replied that it did not and he didn’t see “any political gain” from this.
I couldn’t even imagine that. He said that he thought the idea would be unpopular in conservative Republican states. “But, again, I think that when people see our model, and they see it come to life–and after we have put down the numbers, we have looked at the whole system aspect of it, I think they will realize this is the best model for the country.”
Senate Minority leader Donna Soucy and Assistant Minority leader Beckley Whitley both agreed with Wilhelm. They said that “without a doubt” the announcements of the Governor “are the definition a day late and dollar short”.
They said that “for years, Granite Staters with their ‘Live Free or Die” license plates continued to drive outside of our state’s borders to buy safe and legal marijuana from other states.” It is disappointing that Governor Walker could not work with his own party or the Legislature to promote legalization of cannabis until the Senate had already rejected a bill which could have provided a path forward.
While Tim Lang, a Republican senator who was one of the three new GOP senators to support the state-run marijuana legalization bill during the last session, while he served in the House, has said that the reform shouldn’t be rushed and that certain issues remain with the previous measure.
Important for those counting votes for legalizing cannabis: Sen. @tlangsr, one of three freshmen GOP senators who backed state control marijuana last year while serving in the House, says he wants to go through a full legislative process with a bill next year #NHPolitics #WMUR pic.twitter.com/klt2iPugUc
Adam Sexton (@AdamSextonWMUR 15 May 2023
He said the bill was a “great start for us.” “I don’t expect we’ll get it done in this session but we will this term.”
Advocates and stakeholders expressed concern about the prospect of a state controlled cannabis model. They preferred a more traditional market, like the one sponsored by the House majority leaders and minorities.
—
Marijuana Moment tracks more than 1,000 cannabis and drug policy bills that have been introduced in state legislatures, and Congress. Patreon supporters who pledge at least $25/month gain access to our interactive charts, maps and hearing calendar.
Discover more about our marijuana bills tracker. Become a Patreon supporter to gain access.
—
The Governor has also addressed other concerns that could arise from his proposal. For example, he raised the possibility of state employees being penalized by federal authorities for participating directly in marijuana sales when cannabis is still strictly prohibited.
He cited the fact that over half the states have legalized marijuana, and the federal government tolerates these markets. He argued that the federal government would have less of a problem with a system controlled by states.
He said that by having the state in charge, they could better understand federal systems and have relationships with them. Our attorney general is able to work directly with them to understand their problems or concerns. This is in contrast to other states where non-profits and for-profits are scattered around haphazardly. To be sure, they are at a greater risk than a system controlled by the state.
Sununu said that while he would not necessarily promote the cannabis industry the same way he does the New Hampshire state-run lottery and liquor systems, he did acknowledge that it could attract visitors from out of the state.
We’re not in it for the money. He said, “We’re not doing it for the fame.” “We do this to support adults who want to do it safely at home, to make it available for them.”
“We’re doing this for the harm reduction–controlling, knowing that, inevitably, a much worse system is likely to come online down the line,” he said.
Regulators And Advocates Discuss Next Steps For Marijuana Interstate Commerce
The article New Hampshire’s top lawmakers divided on state-run marijuana legalization plan proposed by Governor first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
