New Hampshire is poised to become the 14th medical marijuana state after a bill legalizing the therapeutic use of marijuana passed the state Senate on a 14-10 vote Wednesday. A similar measure has already been approved by the House.

[inline:new-hampshire-statehouse.jpg align=left caption="New Hampshire Statehouse"]The Senate amended the bill to include a panel to review questions of how patients would access medical marijuana. It also strengthened privacy provisions in the bill. Those changes are seen as minor and are expected to be approved by the House.

The bill would allow patients or their caregivers to grow up to six marijuana plants and possess up to two ounces of usable marijuana. Only patients with enumerated conditions, including chronic pain, seizures, muscle spasms, and severe nausea or vomiting, would be eligible under the bill.

New Hampshire law enforcement lobbyists opposed the bill, and Gov. John Lynch (D) has expressed sympathy for law enforcement concerns. He has also expressed concern that medical marijuana remains illegal under federal law. But he has not said he would veto the bill.

After the vote, advocates launched a statewide ad campaign featuring Multiple Sclerosis patient Sandra Drew, asking Gov. Lynch to sign the bill.