Recreational cannabis legalization in New Hampshire encounters another setback.
WROCLAW, POLAND - FEBRUARY 04, 2020: New Hampshire State Flag and word LEGALIZATION made of small wooden letters. Drug policy. Legalization of marijuana. | Image Credit: © promesaartstudio - stock.adobe.com
In mid-April 2024, New Hampshire governor Chris Sununu stated that he will not sign the latest bill to legalize recreational cannabis in the state (1). HB 1633 was passed twice this year, most recently with a vote of 239-136, and lawmakers have been continually working to align the bill with the framework outlined by the governor in the past (1,2). Governor Sununu has stated he would approve a program that, among other elements, would allow the state to control distribution and access and be modeled after state-run liquor operations (3,4).
“With us controlling the retail on the marketing and the branding side, we would be able to control all that and we do it really well,” Governor Sununu had explained in August 2023, in outlining the framework for cannabis legalization (4). “Our New Hampshire liquor stores are ranked one of the top five retailers in the country. So we have a model that works. Other states don’t really have that, and so we can build off of that.”
Introduced by Representative Erica Layon, HB 1633 would allow adults ages 21 and older to possess up to four ounces of cannabis and it would allow sales from a maximum of 15 retail locations in the state (1).
Medical cannabis is already legal in the state and some lawmakers have voiced concerns that a recreational market could have a negative effect on the current medical cannabis programs and on local growers (2).
The journey to recreational cannabis in the state has been a rocky one. On November 27th, 2023, a specially formed commission failed to arrive at a consensus establishing recommendations on the legalization of recreational cannabis, though the committee did accept the governor’s request to limit the number of retail shops to 15 (5).
In June 2023, the Senate failed to pass a bill that would have made recreational cannabis legal (3). In the wake of the event, Governor Sununu broached the framework of how legalization could occur instead (3). “Knowing that a majority of our residents support legalization, it is reasonable to assume change is inevitable,” Sununu had explained in a statement (3). “To ignore this reality would be shortsighted and harmful. That is why, with the right policy and framework in place, I stand ready to sign a legalization bill that puts the State of NH in the driver’s seat, focusing on harm reduction—not profits. Similar to our Liquor sales, this path helps to keep substances away from kids by ensuring the State of New Hampshire retains control of marketing, sales, and distribution—eliminating any need for additional taxes. As such, the bill that was defeated in NH this session was not the right path for our state.”
In 2017 the governor had signed a bill to decriminalize possession of small amounts of cannabis (3).
New Hampshire remains the only state in New England without recreational cannabis legalization, and it looks to remain that way, at least in the foreseeable future (5). The bill now goes to the Senate where it could possibly be changed for a better chance of being approved by the governor (1).
References
Ep 24, Part III: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
December 26th 2024In the final part of this episode, Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn discuss the need for a national entity to centralize cannabis data collection, moving from snapshot data to continuous updates. They emphasize the importance of accurate lab data and adverse event tracking, suggesting QR codes on packaging to report issues. Yasha suggests harsher consequences for result manipulation and suggests collaboration between state departments and federal entities to support underfunded regulators. They also discuss the potential benefits of off-the-shelf testing and the importance of stability testing. Finally, Yasha shares his top three reading recommendations for the audience.
Ep 24, Part II: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
December 12th 2024Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn, co-founder of MCR Labs, discuss the discrepancies between current regulations and data on mycotoxins and pesticides in cannabis products. They highlight the need for updated regulations based on new data, emphasizing the importance of accurate testing and labeling. They also discuss the issue of result manipulation, particularly in THC content, and the need for public health officials to address this. Yasha suggests making testing data public to enhance oversight and suggests a national entity to manage this data for better consistency and public safety.