Two Pro-Cannabis Bills Killed by New Hampshire Lawmakers

In a major blow to pro-cannabis supporters, the New Hampshire House defeated two of the three proposed bills to legalize in the Granite State.

In a voice vote, legislators defeated House Bill 1675, which whould have legalized the possession of up to 2.2 pounds of marijuana by adults 18 or older, as well as the personal cultivation of up to six (6) cannabis plants (three of which may be mature).

Then in a floor vote, lawmakers killed House Bill 1694, which would have legalized the personal possession and use of up to one (1) ounce of marijuana by adults 21 or older, and authorized the cultivation of industrial hemp in New Hampshire. The proposal would have allowed adults to grow six (6) cannabis plants (3 mature) for personal consumption.

With the defeat of both bills, House Bill 1610, another legalization bill, remains pending in the House. The bill would allow those 21 or older to possess up to two (2) ounces of marijuana, grow up to six (6) cannabis plants ( three of which may be mature), and give up to one ounce of marijuana to another adult without financial compensation. House Bill 1631, which proposes to decriminalize the possession of up to half an ounce of marijuana, is also pending in the House.

The Granite State remains the only New England state where simple possession of marijuana remains a crime and that possession of any amount of marijuana in New Hampshire is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $2,000.

Marijuana law reform has found strong support in New Hampshire and a July 2015 polls shows that 60% of Granite State voters are in favor of legalization and in January 2016, a poll found that 66% of New hampshire voters support decriminalization.