Let your New Hampshire lawmakers know it’s time to legalize!

New Hampshire’s legislature convened its 2022 legislative session today, starting another year where the “Live Free or Die” State is an island of prohibition, surrounded by states and a country where cannabis is legal.

The state House of Representatives may vote on two different legalization bills tomorrow (Thursday) that were retained in committee! Let your state legislators know it’s time to get with the times.

In addition, six new proposals have been introduced to legalize cannabis or to refer legalization to voters — including one sponsored by the chair of the House committee that stalled legalization in 2021. (Chair Daryl Abbas’ bill would require cannabis to be sold through state-run stores, which isn’t feasible due to federal prohibition.) The voter referrals require 60% in each the House and Senate, plus two-thirds of the popular vote on Election Day — but they can’t be vetoed by Gov. Chris Sununu (R), who remains staunchly opposed.

In May, a University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll found off-the-charts support for legalization, at 75%. Elected officials need to hear that the overwhelming majority of their voters are tired of the failed, destructive policy of prohibition.

Ask your legislators to make 2022 the year New Hampshire legalizes cannabis. Then, spread the word.

Read more

Good news! On Tuesday, Gov. Chris Sununu signed HB 605 into law, adding opiate use disorder to New Hampshire’s medical cannabis program and allowing visiting patients to purchase cannabis while in the state. 

Opiate use disorder will only qualify if the patient was certified “by a board certified addiction medicine or addiction psychiatry provider who is actively treating the patient for opioid use disorder” and if the patient has “associated symptoms of cravings and/or withdrawal.”

Meanwhile, patients who are visiting from other medical cannabis states can begin buying cannabis in New Hampshire starting on September 7. They may only buy cannabis from New Hampshire ATCs (dispensaries) three times in a 12-month period unless they produce a statement from their health care provider stating that they have a condition listed under New Hampshire law. 

The governor previously signed SB 162, which makes tweaks to the medical cannabis law, including allowing New Hampshire-registered patients to go to any ATC beginning on September 7 instead of requiring them to designate a single ATC. Patients are still limited to two ounces every 10 days and can have their ID cards revoked if they exceed the limit.

ATCs will be allowed to cultivate up to three mature plants per patient in the program, replacing the limit of three mature plants per patient who designated it. SB 162 also removes the five-patient cap on caregivers and allows medical providers to specify that a patient ID card is valid for up to three years. 

While we’re glad to see New Hampshire’s cannabis policies continue improving, they lag far behind the state’s neighbors and voters’ wishes. New Hampshire is an island of prohibition, surrounded by jurisdictions where cannabis is legal for adults. Unfortunately, Gov. Chris Sununu is a prohibitionist, and the Senate has repeatedly killed legalization efforts. Let your lawmakers know it’s past time the state stop punishing adults for using a plant that is safer than alcohol.

Read more

Despite 75% public support for legalizing cannabis, New Hampshire remains an island of prohibition

It has been another frustrating legislative session for cannabis policy reforms in New Hampshire, but we did manage to make some progress. Several bills impacting the medical cannabis program have passed the House and Senate, and most of them are clear improvements. Some of these bills have already been signed by Gov. Chris Sununu, while others are either on his desk or on their way to his desk:

HB 605 — adds opioid use disorder as a qualifying condition and permits out of state patients to access N.H. dispensaries on a limited basis (awaiting action from Gov. Sununu).

SB 162 — allows N.H. patients to access any of the state's dispensaries, rather than requiring that they select a dispensary when they register (awaiting action from Gov. Sununu).

HB 89 — adds moderate to severe insomnia as a qualifying symptom and autism spectrum disorder as a qualifying condition (effective as of June 24).

HB 240 — requires dispensaries to identify strain names on labels and allows them to put strain names on their websites (effective beginning August 3).

HB 163 — requires counseling about potential harms of cannabis for people under 25 and “women who are of child-bearing age” before they can be certified for therapeutic cannabis (effective beginning July 24).

SB 38 — allows N.H. dispensaries to reorganize as for-profit corporations or LLCs (awaiting action from Gov. Sununu, who vetoed a similar bill in 2019).

Additionally, two adult-use legalization bills have been retained by the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee. Despite overwhelming public support for legalization, it’s not yet clear whether the committee intends to give these bills the attention they deserve.

Thanks Very Much for Your Support

With somewhat mixed feelings, I have decided to move on from MPP to pursue another opportunity. Today will be my last day on the job. However, I intend to remain involved in the New Hampshire political scene, and I will continue to share updates on cannabis policy in the New Hampshire Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy Facebook group and on Twitter. MPP will also continue to send you email updates.

To all who have supported our efforts over the years, I can’t thank you enough. This has been my 14th year working on cannabis policy reform and my 10th year as a full-time employee of MPP, and although I am frustrated by New Hampshire's continued status as an “island of prohibition,” it has been an honor and a privilege to help move our state and region toward more compassionate, humane, and sensible cannabis policies.

Read more

Tell U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan it’s time to end marijuana prohibition!

Last week, Gov. Chris Sununu signed HB 89, a bill adding autism spectrum disorder as a qualifying condition for the therapeutic cannabis program and adding moderate to severe insomnia as a qualifying symptom. This is welcome news, but most New Hampshire residents believe the state should go much further and legalize cannabis for adults’ use. A new poll published by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center indicates that three out of four Granite Staters support legalizing cannabis. This includes support from 86% of Democrats, 83% of Independents, and 62% of Republicans.

You can read more about the poll in this Marijuana Moment article.

Unfortunately, New Hampshire’s two U.S. senators have not supported legalization. Senator Jeanne Shaheen was quoted in a recent article saying, “I don’t support legalizing marijuana.” Senator Maggie Hassan opposed decriminalization bills and medical cannabis home cultivation bills during her tenure as governor, and she has not indicated a change in position since being elected to the Senate.

Write Senators Shaheen and Hassan today and urge them to support ending the federal prohibition of cannabis!

If you are a Twitter user, you can Tweet at them here: @SenatorShaheen and @SenatorHassan.

After you email these two U.S. senators, please share this message with your friends and family.

Read more

Follow up with your senator to say thanks or express your frustration.

Yesterday, the New Hampshire Senate ignored the needs of patients, voting 15-9 to “table” the medical cannabis home cultivation bill. This means HB 350 will not be considered unless the Senate votes to remove it from the table (which is extremely unlikely). As a result, home cultivation will remain a felony in New Hampshire, with no exception for registered patients and caregivers.

The vote mostly fell along party lines. Seven of the 10 Senate Democrats voted against the hostile motion to table the bill, joined by two of the 14 Senate Republicans. Once again, the three Manchester-area Democratic senators (Kevin Cavanaugh, Lou D'Allesandro, and Donna Soucy) voted against the interests of patients, joining twelve Republicans in support of the motion to table.

Although this is extremely frustrating, we should be grateful to the nine senators who voted against the motion to table: Senators Harold French (R), Jay Kahn (D) Rebecca Perkins Kwoka (D), Suzanne Prentiss (D), John Reagan (R), Cindy Rosenwald (D), Tom Sherman (D), David Watters (D), and Rebecca Whitley (D).

Please take a moment to thank your senator if they voted in favor or express your frustration if they voted to maintain the status quo.

HB 350 would have legalized limited home cultivation for registered patients and caregivers (up to three mature plants, three immature plants, and 12 seedlings per patient). It passed the House in a voice vote after being approved 20-1 in committee. Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed a similar bill in 2019.

A new home cultivation bill will almost certainly be reintroduced in 2022.

Read more

Please email your senator today, then call Gov. Sununu’s office at 603-271-2121 and urge him to support HB 350!

Yesterday, all three of New Hampshire’s alternative treatment centers (ATCs) testified in favor of HB 350, a bill that would legalize home cultivation for qualifying patients and designated caregivers, in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. This was a remarkable turnaround from 2019, when a nearly identical bill received no support from ATCs at a hearing in this same committee.

There is still no guarantee that HB 350 will pass and become law, but it’s encouraging that the three ATCs have joined the chorus of support from patients and advocates.

If you’d like to watch video of the hearing, it is available on YouTube here.

If you are a patient who would personally benefit from this bill’s passage, or you are a friend or family member of a patient, please email all five members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and share your story.

Please also email your state senator about this important legislation today. Then, call Gov. Chris Sununu’s office at 603-271-2121 and urge him to support the bill!

After you email your state senator and call Gov. Sununu’s office, please share this important message with your friends and family!

Read more

A public hearing on the medical cannabis home grow bill will take place on Wednesday, March 17, beginning at 9:45am — email your senator today!

The New Hampshire House has been voting to pass medical cannabis home cultivation bills since 2009, but unfortunately, these bills have failed to become law. In 2019, the Senate joined the House in passing a home grow bill, but it was vetoed by Gov. Chris Sununu, and the veto override effort fell three votes short in the Senate.

As a result, home cultivation remains a felony in New Hampshire, and there is no exception for registered patients and caregivers. But lawmakers are trying again in 2021.

Last month, the House of Representatives passed HB 350, which would legalize limited home cultivation for registered patients and caregivers (up to three mature plants, three immature plants, and 12 seedlings per patient). HB 350 is now scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday, March 17, beginning at 9:45 a.m.

The hearing will be conducted via Zoom, which means it will be easier than ever for advocates to support the legislation.

Here’s how you can help:

1. Click here to access the Senate’s remote sign-in sheet.

2. Select the date (3/17) and the committee: Senate Health and Human Services.

3. Select HB 350, identify yourself as a “member of the public,” and indicate that you support the bill.

4. If you wish to speak at the hearing, check the box. If you do not wish to speak, click “continue,” and enter your name and contact information on the next page. The Zoom link for this hearing is here. If you aren’t testifying, you can observe the hearing on YouTube here.

5. If you are a patient who would personally benefit from this bill’s passage, or you are a friend or family member of a patient, please email all five members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and share your story.

6. Please also email your state senator about this important legislation today. Then, call Gov. Chris Sununu’s office at 603-271-2121 and urge him to support the bill!

If you’d like to read an overview of where members of this committee have stood on the issue in the past, click here.

After you sign up to testify or indicate your support, email your state senator, and call Gov. Sununu’s office, please share this important message with your friends and family!

Read more

Email your senator today, then call Governor Chris Sununu’s office and urge him to support HB 350!

Home cultivation of cannabis is a felony in New Hampshire, and there is no exception for registered patients and caregivers. Today, the House of Representatives voted to change that by passing HB 350, a bill that would legalize limited home cultivation for registered patients and caregivers (up to three mature plants, three immature plants, and 12 seedlings per patient).

Please email your state senator today. Then, call Gov. Chris Sununu’s office at 603-271-2021 and urge him to support the bill!

Next, HB 350 will be scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Click here for an overview of where the senators on that committee have stood on medical cannabis home cultivation.

If you are a patient who would personally benefit from this bill’s passage, or you are a friend or family member of a patient, please email all five members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and share your story.

The House has passed home cultivation bills many times in the past, but this time it did so with almost zero opposition. The Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs Committee approved HB 350 in a 20-1 vote, and the House passed it as part of the “consent calendar” without any discussion or debate. The full text of the bill is available here.

Sadly, previous home grow bills have failed to become law despite the House’s support. In 2019, the Senate passed a similar bill (HB 364) in a 14-10 vote, but it was vetoed by Gov. Sununu, and the veto override effort fell three votes short of the required two-thirds in the Senate.

This year, we will need to pressure the Senate and governor in order to achieve a different result. After you email your state senator and call Gov. Sununu’s office, please share this important message with your friends and family!

Read more

Sadly, another committee is obstructing progress on adult-use legalization — write your representatives today and tell them this is unacceptable!

First, the good news: HB 350, the medical cannabis home cultivation bill, passed the House Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs Committee in an overwhelming 20-1 vote. Thanks to all who testified or signed in at the public hearing!

After the bill passes the full House, which it is expected to do by a wide margin, it will be referred to the Senate Health Committee for a hearing. This will likely be a much more difficult challenge, since some committee members have opposed home cultivation bills in the past. If you’d like to go ahead and start reaching out to the members of this committee and to Gov. Chris Sununu (who vetoed a similar bill in 2019), click here for more details.

Sadly, despite overwhelming testimony from New Hampshire residents in favor of cannabis legalization, the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted 14-7 to “retain” both legalization bills. If the House doesn’t overturn this decision and pass at least one of the two bills, adults who consume cannabis will continue to be fined and arrested for at least another year.

I described the committee’s unacceptable actions in this detailed commentary. If you’re as outraged as I am by the committee’s decision to avoid a vote on these bills, please write your representatives and urge them to make legalization a top priority!

After you write your representatives, please share this important message with your friends and family!

Read more

MPP’s general election voter guide is now available; please take time to read it and make a plan to vote!

Last week was a huge week for cannabis policy reform in northern New England. On Wednesday evening, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott announced that he would allow a bill legalizing cannabis sales to become law without his signature. He also signed a bill that will automatically expunge all previous misdemeanor records for cannabis offenses. And in Maine, the first adult-use cannabis retail stores opened for business last Friday!

Sadly, Gov. Chris Sununu has shown no indication that he is evolving on the issue. In a recent appearance on WMUR, Sununu once again dismissed the idea of legalizing cannabis, saying “now is just not the time.”

It sounds like, for Sununu, it may never be “the time” to end cannabis prohibition. Fortunately, there are two ways around this: one is for N.H. to elect a different governor, and the other is to elect enough supportive legislators that it becomes possible to override a potential veto.

There has never been a more important election for cannabis policy reform in New Hampshire. Please take time to read MPP’s voter guide for the general election and share it with other supporters. Then, make a plan to vote and start spreading the word about your preferred candidates!

Read more