The New Hampshire House of Representatives has voted to reject Senate amendments to a bill aimed at legalizing recreational marijuana and is requesting the establishment of a conference committee.
The House’s decision to reject the Senate’s amendments comes a week after the Senate passed the bill with a vote of 14 to 10. This marked the first time in US history that Republican-led state Senate passed a marijuana legalization bill.
The House passed HB 1633 in March with a vote of 239 to 136. However, due to amendments made by the Senate, the bill required final concurrence from the House. Today, the House voted 261 to 108 against concurring with the Senate’s version of the bill. Instead, they are seeking to establish a conference committee consisting of members from both the Senate and House to address the differences between the two chambers’ versions of the bill.
The proposed legislation, if enacted, would permit individuals 21 and older to possess and use up to two ounces of marijuana, 10 grams of marijuana concentrates, and marijuana products containing up to 2,000 milligrams of THC. Additionally, it would create a system for licensed and regulated marijuana retail outlets, with a cap of 15 stores statewide and no more than one store per municipality. The bill also includes a marijuana sales tax set at 10%.
A significant changes made by the Senate was reducing the possession limit for dried marijuana from four ounces to two ounces. However, the most contentious issue is that the Senate’s version of the bill would create a system of state-operated marijuana stores, an approach no other legal marijuana state has taken.
Governor Chris Sununu has expressed his intention to sign HB 1633 into law if the final version maintains the Senate’s amendments. If the bill is eventually passed and signed, New Hampshire will join 24 other states that have legalized recreational marijuana within the past 12 years.
“Instead of rushing to pass a bill that we all know is flawed, let’s reject this amendment and insist on making better policies for our constituents,” said Representative Heath Howard (D) prior to the vote of nonoccurrence. “We will only get one chance to create a well regulated market for adult-use cannabis, and it’s important we get it right.”
Rep. Kevin Verville (R) shared a similar sentiment, saying “I know the vast majority of my constituents want legalized cannabis. They want it in New Hampshire and they want it sooner than later. But this is not the right approach for us.”
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