A House committee in New Hampshire recently convened to discuss one of three different proposals aimed at legalizing recreational cannabis in the state. The committee reviewed House Bill 186, introduced by Representative Jared Sullivan.
The proposal would permit adults from age 21 to possess up to ten grams of concentrate and two ounces of cannabis flower. It would also allow individuals to cultivate up to six marijuana plants for personal use at home.
Consumers would have the opportunity to purchase lab-tested and labeled products from stores regulated by the state. HB 186 is one of two legalization measures that Representative Sullivan has presented in this legislative session. The other proposal, House Bill 198, would legalize home cultivation and possession but does not include provisions for commercial sales.
The legislation discussed this week draws heavily from a similar measure that legislators nearly passed in the previous session. House Democrats, however, ultimately put the bill on hold after some of them voiced misgivings about its suggestion of a state-run franchise system.
Sullivan highlighted key changes in the new measure, including a lower tax rate. Instead of creating a new, marijuana-specific tax, the bill proposes using the state’s existing meals and room tax. Additionally, it seeks to establish an independent marijuana commission to set regulations and oversee the market, a shift from last year’s proposal, which would have placed oversight under the state’s liquor commission.
The committee listened to public testimony but didn’t make any immediate decisions on HB 186. Committee Chair Representative John Hunt stated that the bill would next be examined by a liquor subcommittee. Committee member Representative Merryl Gibbs expressed approval of the updated proposal, praising both the formation of a commission and the decision to base the marijuana tax on the meals and rooms tax.
Representative Heath Howard, co-sponsor of the measure, voiced his support, stressing the importance of providing adults not only with the right to possess cannabis legally but also with a regulated way to access it.
Former Representative Joe Hannon, who has a medical background and previously served on a state opioid committee, also backed the measure. Hannon noted that, without legal options in the state, residents often travel to nearby states to purchase marijuana legally, only to bring it back home.
The state Association of Chiefs of Police provided the only testimony opposing the bill during the hearing.
A poll conducted in June revealed that about 65% of New Hampshire adults support marijuana legalization, with nearly 61% backing the previous bill, House Bill 1633.
The entire marijuana industry, including firms like Curaleaf Holdings Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) will be hoping that the lawmakers in New Hampshire keep the interests of their voters in mind while considering the legalization bills before them.
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