New Hampshire Senate Kills Bills That Would Have Legalized Marijuana And Allowed Home Cultivation Of Medical Cannabis
Marijuana Moment
Senators in New Hampshire rejected a number of House-passed marijuana bills on Thursday, voting to table proposals that would legalize marijuana, allow medical cannabis patients to grow plants at home and permit dispensaries to buy hemp-derived cannabinoids on the commercial market.
The full Senate tabled all three pieces of legislation, meaning they’re unlikely to see further action by the end of the session.
The measures were previously marked inexpedient to legislate by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has broadly opposed drug reform bills this session.
The most contentious floor vote on Thursday was on the medical marijuana homegrow bill, HB 53, from Rep. Wendy Thomas (D). Under that proposal, state-registered medical marijuana patients and caregivers could grow up to three mature cannabis plants and three immature plants, as well as 12 seedlings. They could also possess up to eight ounces of usable cannabis from those plants.
Growers would have to keep the plants in secure locations, away from public view or unauthorized access, and cultivation would need to be reported to the state. Landlords could also prohibit the activity.
Sen. Daryl Abbas (R), who moved to table the bill, argued that the change would “open the floodgates” by effectively raising the state’s medical marijuana possession limit.
