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New Hampshire Marijuana Legalization Bill Defeated

Submitted by Phillip Smith on (Issue #776)

A bill to legalize marijuana in New Hampshire is dead after a House vote Wednesday. The measure was defeated on a vote of 239-122 with no debate. Democrats supported the bill on a roughly two-to-one margin, while Republicans opposed it by roughly the same margin.

The vote against the bill came after the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted 12-8 last month not to pass the measure.

The bill, House Bill 337, would have removed marijuana from the state's criminal code, effectively ending marijuana prohibition in the Granite State, but did not contain any provisions for taxation and regulation of cultivation and sales.

Another marijuana legalization bill, House Bill 492, is still alive, but is stuck in the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee with no vote scheduled. That bill would allow people to grow up to six plants and sets up a scheme to tax and regulate marijuana commerce.

Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.

Comments

Uncle Bob (not verified)

One by one marijuana law reform initiatives are failing... it's a harsh reminder that in spite of the victories in Colorado and Washington, there is still a long hard road ahead.  It's clearly a mistake to celebrate now, and it's a HUGE mistake to assume that reform is "winning."  That "momentum is on our side."  Public opinion polls can say what they wish, until the guys we elect to sit in our governments are on the same page as the public, nothing is accomplished.

Thu, 03/14/2013 - 10:13pm Permalink
kickback (not verified)

House bill 337 was dead on arrival because it was a blanket legalization bill with no " provisions " . House bill 492 seems to address those issues . You can`t throw out a bill [ window-dressing ] with empty guidelines and expect anything to become of it . These faux legalization bills such as H.B. 337 are probably just some sick minded legislator`s attempt to discourage the public . OH, NO , they got us again . It`s useless , just capitulate . H.B. 492 may see a different outcome . If I`ve said it once , I`ve said it twice+ , that " Big Green Tsunami " is unstoppable and will not be denied . STRENGTH not weakness.........

Fri, 03/15/2013 - 3:23am Permalink
Justin Auldphart (not verified)

Alas, I don't think any legislative bill will ever pass....too much lobby money (in the case of NH from Big Booze) and pressure. The only way, I think, is the way of Co and WA, through the ballot box...On the other hand, I could be wrong. If the the Maine and Vermont legislatures pass their bills, things could get interesting in the Granite State

Fri, 03/15/2013 - 7:55am Permalink
robin-z (not verified)

"until the guys we elect to sit in our governments are on the same page as the public, nothing is accomplished." There is no way that elected officials will legalize recreational marijuana. The only way we can when is through referendums State and federal legislators are too conservative to pass a legalization bill They should have never introduced it.We should concentrate are efforts and resources on the referendum process and circumvent the legislators

Fri, 03/15/2013 - 10:10am Permalink
Uncle Bob (not verified)

In reply to by robin-z (not verified)

Your attitude towards this is ineffective.. because, in the long run, reformers are going to eventually HAVE to get congress on their side.  Ultimate victory lies in Congress... can't bypass them forever.  At some point some agreement has to happen with our elected officials, or the war on drugs will NEVER end.

Fri, 03/15/2013 - 9:18pm Permalink
Anh Hung Can Sa (not verified)

Ok, folks. First off, NH doesn't have a ballot initiative process. Secondly, 2013 is not an election year, so the only way any new laws are going to pass is through the legislature.

The NH House voted on a legalization bill last year and it lost 228-89, which works out to 28% in favor. ME also had a legalization bill last year, which lost 107-39 (27% in favor). This bill got just under 34% in favor -that's an increase in support of 6% in just one year. At this rate, Granite Staters should be enjoying legal weed by 2017.

Sat, 03/16/2013 - 12:34pm Permalink

The state's definition of marijuana could be amended to mean only that material which has been dried or otherwise prepared for smoking, which would be to placate those concerned with the only health concern regarding cannabis, i.e. its consumption by smoke inhalation.  Moist cannabis, tincture, and hemp products would thereby become legal while not much consolidated statute language is changed.

Thu, 03/21/2013 - 10:30pm Permalink
Edward Gill (not verified)

They voted to protect the Prison Industry which includes the Lawyers and Judges and Police that steal the property of the victims of Drug Laws.  Moreover the Demorepublicans that voted are all taking bribes from that group. 

Fri, 03/22/2013 - 2:27pm Permalink

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