Legalization Bill Advanced in the New Hampshire House

Lawmakers in the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted Wednesday to move forward with legislation that would legalize recreational cannabis in the Granite State.

Members of the House of Representatives voted 234 to 127 to submit the bill to a committee for further consideration.

The measure “would legalize the possession and use of cannabis for adults 21 and older” while “existing alternative treatment centers expand their role in marijuana production to supply local retailers, with the Liquor Commission potentially taking on a greater oversight role.” according to local news channel WMUR.

The House of Representatives’ approval on Wednesday was described by local news channel NECN as the “first big test,” but the law appears to be far from becoming law.

Republicans control the New Hampshire legislature, known as the State General Court, but the two houses have long been divided over the issue of marijuana legalization.

While the House of Representatives has been pushing for an end to the ban, the State Senate has not been on board.

After members of the State House passed a legalization bill last year, the state Senate promptly defeated the measure by a vote of 15 to 9.

Meanwhile, Republican Gov. Chris Sununu has consistently opposed the policy.

“I’ve always said now is not the right time. Each state does it differently. I’ve always wanted to see what works and what doesn’t,” Sununu said during a debate in the state’s gubernatorial campaign last year. “There may be a way, but given that we’re facing an opioid crisis, as we still don’t know what’s working with other states, it could be inevitable, I understand, but you have to be patient with how you’re doing it and the steps best for New Hampshire.

Last month the governor’s office dismissed the chances of the recent legalization proposal.

“It has failed repeatedly in the Senate, both in the Republican years and in the Democrat years,” the governor’s office said. “With teenage drug use and overdose on the rise, don’t expect lawmakers to see this as a time to ignore the data and push it forward.”

Supporters of the proposal in the state House of Representatives claim that New Hampshire is losing potential tax revenue to other states in the Northeast that have already legalized recreational cannabis.

“I want to make sure that New Hampshire citizens don’t have to leave the state to practice ‘Live Free or Die,'” said Republican House Representative John Hunt, as quoted by local news station NECN.

According to the broadcaster, “Other proponents said the bill would ensure cannabis safety and allow for significant local input into permitting and licensing of facilities,” while opponents of the measure “focused on the dangers of teenage use and encountered strong opposition.” from the law enforcement community.”

“Don’t be fooled by the for-profit industry that claims tax revenue will solve all of our budget problems,” GOP House Representative Lilli Walsh said, as quoted by NECN. “It will transform our state in unimaginable ways, none of which promote the common good.”

The latest legalization bill, passed by the House of Representatives on Wednesday, “would give the state liquor commission the task of regulating marijuana, with a 15 percent tax levied at the grower level,” while the bulk of “the tax revenue goes to reducing the state pension commitments and the state trust fund for education, with some drug abuse prevention programs and police training.”

Polls have shown that New Hampshire voters have broad support for legalization.