The New Hampshire House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee voted 10 to 7 today to advance legislation that would legalize recreational cannabis for those 21 and older.
The measure establishes a framework for retail sales, cultivation, product manufacturing, and testing facilities, overseen by a newly created cannabis commission. Those 21+ would be allowed to possess up to two ounces of marijuana, 10 grams of concentrate, cannabis products with up to 2,000 milligrams of THC, and cultivate up to six plants at home, with three or fewer mature at one time.
The bill also directs tax revenue from legal sales into a cannabis fund, which would support education, prevention, treatment, and recovery programs for substance misuse, as well as mental health services. Strict rules on advertising, packaging, labeling, and product safety are included, with limits on potency and prohibitions on marketing to minors.
Municipalities would be able to vote on whether to allow retail stores, though they could not prohibit transportation of cannabis through their jurisdiction. The legislation further establishes a cannabis advisory board to provide regulatory recommendations and ensure patient access in the state’s medical program.
With committee approval, House Bill 186 now heads to the full House of Representatives for consideration. If passed, New Hampshire would join every other New England state in legalizing marijuana for adult use.
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