Cannabis Legalization In New Hampshire: Examining A State-Run Model

On August eighth, 2023 New Hampshire governor Chris Sununu signed into legislation Home Invoice 611, which created a fee intending to review hashish legalization modeled after state-run liquor operations as an alternative of via personal companies (1).

“With us controlling the retail on the advertising and the branding facet, we might have the ability to management all that and we do it rather well,” Governor Sununu stated (2). “Our New Hampshire liquor shops are ranked one of many prime 5 retailers within the nation. So we have now a mannequin that works. Different states don’t actually have that, and so we will construct off of that.”

“So let’s present it with safety,” Sununu additionally said (2). “There’ll be some income from it—however you need to by no means be legalizing extra medication for income. That has moral and ethical issues wrapped throughout it. Different states did that we’re not taking place that path. So I believe if they will do it, we will get it achieved.”

The mannequin can be distinctive to the Granite State (1). Amendments to the invoice embrace eradicating the requirement that extreme ache be treatment-resistant earlier than a affected person qualifies for medical hashish, and prohibits the sale of hemp containing sure quantities of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (3).

Earlier this yr, the governor vetoed a invoice that will have made possession of as much as 4 ounces of hashish authorized, and in addition issued a press release explaining his most well-liked path towards legalization within the state (4).

In keeping with the brand new laws, the newly fashioned fee will embrace 5 senators and 5 Home representatives, in addition to representatives from Legal professional Normal’s Workplace, the New Hampshire Affiliation of Chiefs of Police, the New Hampshire Bankers Affiliation, the New Hampshire Liquor Fee, the American Civil Liberties Union, the New Hampshire Medical Society, and Communities for Alcohol and Drug-Free Youth (3).

This fee is required to report its findings and suggestions be December of this yr (1).

References

1. DeWitt, E. Fee to review state-run hashish retail mannequin strikes forward https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2023/08/09/commission-to-study-state-run-cannabis-retail-model-moves-ahead/ (accessed Aug 18, 2023).
2. Jaeger, Okay. New Hampshire lawmakers ship Marijuana Legalization Examine Fee invoice to governor, who says reform is “inevitable” https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-hampshire-lawmakers-send-marijuana-legalization-study-commission-bill-to-governor-who-says-reform-is-inevitable/ (accessed Aug 18, 2023).
3. https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/billinfo.aspx?id=371&inflect=2 (accessed Aug 18, 2023).
4. McEvoy, E. New Hampshire governor outlines path for leisure hashish legalization within the State https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/new-hampshire-governor-outlines-path-for-recreational-cannabis-legalization-in-the-state (accessed Aug 18, 2023).