New Hampshire House Approves Cannabis Legalization

The Republican-controlled New Hampshire House of Representatives on Thursday passed a cannabis personal possession and cultivation bill, the Associated Press reports. This is the fourth cannabis legalization bill the House has sent to the Senate in the past three years.

If approved, the bill would legalize the possession of 3/4 of an ounce – which is already decriminalized in the state – and allow the cultivation of up to six plants at home. Legislators say they worked on this bill over the summer and will be looking at more cannabis-related bills in the coming months.

“It is not and never has been the job of government to try to protect you from hurting yourself, and outside of 1950s B horror movies, it has never been the job of government to protect you from a plant.” — State Rep. Max Abramson (R), in the report

Gov. Chris Sununu (R) does not support the bill; however, the proposal passed the lower chamber with a five-vote, veto-proof majority, the AP notes.

New Hampshire does have a medical cannabis system with an extensive qualifying condition list, including HIV/AIDS, PTSD, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, nausea, opioid use disorder, and Parkinson’s disease. Under the state’s medical cannabis law, patients can possess up to two ounces and can purchase from dispensaries. Caretakers and home cultivation are not permitted under the program.