NH marijuana legalization clears Senate with future still uncertain

In a marathon 11 hour session Thursday, the New Hampshire State Senate on Thursday passed HB 1633, a bill legalizing recreational use marijuana in the state, the furthest ever a cannabis legalization bill has ever advanced in the state. On a bipartisan 14–9 vote, the bill heads to the Senate Finance Committee for further changes…

Colin Booth

May 17, 2024

In a marathon 11 hour session Thursday, the New Hampshire State Senate on Thursday passed HB 1633, a bill legalizing recreational use marijuana. It heads to comittee for further work. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

On a bipartisan 14–9 vote, the bill heads to the Senate Finance Committee for further changes before being voted on again.

Despite advancing further than prior bills, success of passage is not certain, as Governor Chris Sununu has placed strict limits on the nature of implementation of cannabis sales in the state. Limits that have been subject to change in the past depending on political conditions.

The leading Republican candidate to replace Sununu, Kelly Ayotte, has said she would be opposed to any recreational cannabis bill, while Democratic candidates for Governor have supported legalization.

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