State Lawmakers to Hold Hearing Thursday on Bill to Legalize Possession and Cultivation of Cannabis in New Hampshire; Pre-hearing News Conference at 12:30 p.m.

Prior to the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee hearing on HB 1648, bill sponsors Rep. Carol McGuire and Rep. Renny Cushing will join leaders of ACLU-NH, Americans for Prosperity New Hampshire, and the Marijuana Policy Project to discuss the proposal

CONCORD, N.H. — The House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee will hold a hearing Thursday on HB 1648, legislation that would legalize possession and limited cultivation of cannabis for adults 21 and older in New Hampshire. 

Sponsors of HB 1648, including Rep. Carol McGuire (R-Epsom) and Rep. Renny Cushing (D-Hampton), will join supporters of the bill for a pre-hearing news conference at 12:30 p.m. in the lobby of the New Hampshire Legislative Office Building. Participants will include leaders from ACLU-NH, Americans for Prosperity New Hampshire, and the Marijuana Policy Project. 

“The time has come to end our outdated policy of punishing adults for possessing cannabis,” McGuire said. “It does not make sense for New Hampshire to remain an island of prohibition.” 

A summary of HB 1648 is available here.

WHAT: News conference and hearing on HB 1648, the bill to legalize possession and limited cultivation of cannabis for adults 21 and older in New Hampshire

WHEN: Thursday, January 23; news conference at 12:30 p.m. ET, followed by the hearing at 1:30 p.m. ET

WHERE: News conference in the lobby of the New Hampshire Legislative Office Building, 33 N. State St., Concord; the hearing will be held in Rooms 210-211

WHO: Rep. Carol McGuire (R-Epsom), sponsor of HB 1648

Rep. Renny Cushing (D-Hampton), cosponsor of HB 1648

Richard Van Wickler, superintendent, Cheshire County Department of Corrections, representing Law Enforcement Action Partnership

Jeanne Hruska, political director, ACLU-NH

Ross Connolly, deputy director, Americans for Prosperity New Hampshire

Matt Simon, New England political director, Marijuana Policy Project