N.H. Senate tables bill legalizing cannabis possession

The New Hampshire Senate voted 12-10 (with two excused) to table HB 198, which would have treated adults like grown-ups. HB 198 would have stopped punishing adults 21 and older for possession of up to two ounces of cannabis, while keeping public smoking illegal.  
 
This comes despite a recent UNH poll finding a staggering 70% support for the bill, and a mere 21% opposed.
 
All of the Democratic senators voted against tabling, as did Republican Senators Keith Murphy and Victoria Sullivan. Republican Senators Denise Riccardi and Daryl Abbas were excused, but would likely have voted to table the bill. Sen. Abbas previously voted to kill the bill in committee and Sen. Riccardi voted against every prior year’s legalization bill. All of the remaining ten Republican senators voted to table the bill — David Rochefort, Timothy Lang, Mark McConkey, James Gray, Daniel Innis, Ruth Ward, Tim McGough, Kevin Avard, Sharon Carson, Howard Pearl, Regina Birdsell, and Bill Gannon.
 
It is technically possible to remove the bill from the table, but it appears extremely unlikely to happen this year. Next year will be an election year, with all seats in the Senate and House up for election — along with the governorship. 
 
If you live in New Hampshire, consider signing up for your local senator’s email alerts or following them on social media, and see if you can get an audience with them in the next several months. You can thank them for their support, or plead with them to reconsider blocking the will of the people. Remember to always be polite and respectful. Many lawmakers and voters have evolved on cannabis policy over the years. Hostile and threatening behavior will backfire.
 
Legalizing medical cannabis and decriminalization also took many years in the Granite State. We’re not giving up, and we hope you won’t either.