Committees in New Hampshire on Wednesday took action on a handful of marijuana bills, advancing a plan that would legalize the simple possession by adults as well as a proposal to double existing possession limits for medical cannabis patients and caregivers. They put a pause, however, on broader legislation to legalize and regulate a commercial recreational marijuana market.
At a hearing, the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee gave its approval to two different bills. One—HB 198, from Rep. Jared Sullivan (D)—takes a simple, unregulated approach to marijuana legalization.
If approved, the measure would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to two ounces of marijuana flower, 10 grams of concentrate and up to 2,000 milligrams of THC in other cannabis products.
Retail sales of marijuana products, along with home cultivation, would remain illegal under the plan. Consuming marijuana on public land would also be prohibited.
Another bill—HB 190, from Rep. Heath Howard (D)—would increase the possession limit of medical marijuana by patients and caregivers, raising it to four ounces from the current two. Existing 10-day patient purchase limits would also increase from two ounces up to four.
Members of the committee voted 9–7 in favor of HB 198 and 14–0 to advance HB 190.
“We as a body have passed bills legalizing cannabis again and again,” Rep. Alissandra Murray (D), who made the motion to advance HB 198, said before Wednesday’s vote. “The people of New Hampshire have made it clear that they would like us to legalize cannabis.”
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