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.

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.

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.

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).

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!

Despite overwhelming testimony from New Hampshire residents in favor of cannabis legalization at Wednesday’s hearing, the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted 14-7 to “retain” both legalization bills. As a result, the House will avoid voting on cannabis legalization until 2022, and adults who consume cannabis will continue being fined and arrested for at least another year.

The medical cannabis home cultivation bill still hasn't arrived on Gov. Sununu's desk — there's still time for you to call his office and urge him to sign it! Gov. Chris Sununu has signed a few cannabis-related bills into law, while vetoing others. On Friday, he signed a very important bill, HB 399, which will allow people who received misdemeanor convictions for possessing small amounts of cannabis prior to decriminalization to have their records annulled. The new law will take effect on January…

Action has been delayed on legalization, but we're still doing everything we can to pass the medical cannabis home cultivation bill — please call Gov. Chris Sununu today and urge him to sign HB 364 into law! The New Hampshire Senate has delayed action on the legalization bill, but several cannabis-related bills have been approved by both chambers of the legislature, and they will soon land on the desk of Gov. Chris Sununu. Most of these bills passed with strong support in both chambers, but the…

Contact your senator now in support of adding inhalation to the medical marijuana program! Yesterday, a bill was barely defeated that would allow for inhalation of medical marijuana. Right now, patients are severely limited on how they can use medical marijuana. But there's still hope! The legislature is back in session this weekend, and there is a chance to reconsider the bill and have another vote as soon as TODAY. Please write your senator right now in favor of allowing patients to use medical…

The Kentucky House Health and Welfare Committee made history today when it voted 9-5 in favor of HB 350, the “Cannabis Compassion Act.” This is the first time a Kentucky legislative committee has ever voted to approve an effective medical marijuana bill. If you are a Kentucky resident, please contact your representatives and senators today and urge them to join this committee in standing up for patients! [caption id="attachment_7360" align="alignright" width="135"] Rep. Mary Lou Marzian[/caption] Sponsored…