A New Hampshire state Senate committee dealt a likely death blow to a trio of pro-marijuana bills, voting down each of them during a hearing this week, although technically each measure could still pass the full Senate when they’re delivered to the chamber floor later in the legislative session.
According to Marijuana Moment, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday rejected three bills that had earlier been approved by the House of Representatives, including a measure that would have legalized recreational cannabis.
The bills that were tabled included House Bill 75; the adult-use legalization measure, HB 53, which would have legalized home cultivation for medical marijuana patients; and HB 51, which would have let licensed medical marijuana companies purchase nonintoxicating hemp-based cannabinoids and incorporate them into products.
The committee chose not to act on a fourth bill during Tuesday’s hearing, HB 196, which is related to criminal cannabis record expungements.
Although observers had not expected New Hampshire to legalize recreational cannabis use this year – particularly due to opposition from Gov. Kelly Ayotte – several told Marijuana Moment they were crestfallen that lawmakers also refused to advance “modest” medical cannabis expansions.
“It appears that a few senators just want to kill every bill that deals with cannabis policy, no matter how modest and noncontroversial,” Matt Simon, spokesman for GraniteLeaf Cannabis, told Marijuana Moment.
The state Senate has one more adult-use marijuana legalization bill to contend with: HB 198, which the House just approved last month.
But for now, it appears that New Hampshire will remain the only state in New England to not have legalized adult use cannabis.
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