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Marijuana Decriminalization: New Hampshire Bill Defeated in Senate Committee

Submitted by Phillip Smith on (Issue #628)
Drug War Issues

A bill that would decriminalize the possession of a quarter-ounce or less of marijuana in New Hampshire appears dead this year after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 5-0 Tuesday not to recommend it. The bill will still go before the full Senate, where it is expected to be defeated on a voice vote.

"It is now clear the bill will not become law this year, but it is also clear the discussion will continue," Matt Simon, director of the New Hampshire Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy, told the North Andover (Massachusetts) Eagle Tribune after the vote.

The bill, HB 1653, passed the House on a 214-37 vote earlier this year. But Senate Judiciary Committee members said the threat of a gubernatorial veto made it dead on arrival because the Senate has other legislation to which to attend.

Simon said the Senate vote was a minor setback and that medical marijuana and decriminalization bills will be back. The legislature already defeated a marijuana legalization bill this year, but will study the tax benefits of legalizing pot this summer.

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

Jean Boyd (not verified)

We knew it would change someday, but these pol-i-tic-ians want life to stay the same for their lowly selves. They have lots of money and families and they do not want to complicate their lives with a real job. Either New Hampshirans move out west where it will all be legal or replace that Senate Judiciary Committee. They are going to be so sorry when they figure it out, like by reading a book.

Fri, 04/16/2010 - 7:31pm Permalink
Anonymous00 (not verified)

Making my list of who to vote AGAINST. Don't these politicians realize they are supposed to represent the people, and 60% of the US favors decriminializing marijuana.

Wed, 04/21/2010 - 9:50am Permalink

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