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New Hampshire Poll Shows Increasing Support for Ending Marijuana Prohibition

Jul 29, 2015

decriminalization, Granite State Poll, New Hampshire, Senate, WMUR


New Hampshire Poll Shows Increasing Support for Ending Marijuana Prohibition

A WMUR Granite State Poll found that 60% of New Hampshire adults support making marijuana legal. It also reported 72% support for decriminalizing  simple marijuana possession.

In early June, the Senate blocked a widely supported bill that

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— Screen Shot 2015-07-29 at 12.33.57 PM
would have removed criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana. HB 618, which the House approved 297-67 in March, would have made possession of up to one-half ounce of marijuana a civil violation punishable by a fine of $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second offense, and $500 for a third or subsequent offense. Under current state law, possession of any amount of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $2,000.

New Hampshire is the only state in New England that treats simple marijuana possession as a criminal offense with the potential for jail time.