In a little over two weeks, New Hampshire’s legislature will hold a public hearing on House Bill 544, which would legalize recreational marijuana for everyone 21 and older.
The proposal is set for “full committee work session” on September 12 at 10:00 a.m. in the Legislative Office Building, Rooms 302-304. The hearing will come three months after the New Hampshire House narrowly rejected a similar legalization measure (House Bill 1633) by a vote of 178 to 173. House Bill 1633 has already passed the full Senate when it was rejected by the House, which was seen as a crushing blow to many legalization proponents.
Despite this setback, lawmakers in support of legalization continue to press the issue in hopes of coming to a coconscious on specific bill text that can pass both the House and Senate, while retaining support of Governor Chris Sununu who said he would have signed HB 1633 if it had made it to his desk.
House Bill 544 was first filed in January 2023 by five Democrats. The measure would legalize marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol, including a putting control of the legal marijuana market in the hands of the state liquor commission.
A recent poll revealed that 65% of New Hampshire residents support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Earlier this month Governor Sununu signed a bill that expands access to medical marijuana, making it available for all qualifying conditions.
