Support the Legalization of Marijuana

Do your part for pot was made to supporrt the legalization of marijuana. We believe in our rights. We believe No person should be arrested for smoking.

On March 28, in a huge victory for patients and their families, the Senate voted 13-11 to approve New Hampshire's medical marijuana bill, SB 409. With this vote, the New Hampshire Senate became the first Republican-led state senate in the nation to pass an effective medical marijuana bill.

Unfortunately, Gov. Lynch's press secretary has already indicated that Lynch will veto the bill. Please call Gov. Lynch at (603) 271-2121 and urge him to reconsider his position on SB 409.

Several senators who voted "no" on the bill are not certain in their opposition, and we are still optimistic about gaining support from additional senators as we continue moving this bill through the process. If your senator voted against the bill, please contact him or her to ask for his or her support. The bill will next be referred to the House Health and Human Services Committee for a hearing in April or May. We will continue working to gain support in both the House and Senate in coming weeks. If you are a patient, a medical professional, or someone who would like to volunteer, please email state@mpp.org to see how you can be of special help.

In 2011, the Republican-dominated House of Representatives passed a medical marijuana bill by an astonishing 221-96 margin. HB 442 was then approved by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, but sadly, the full Senate was deadlocked over the bill and chose to table it rather than bring it to a vote. Fortunately, the bill has been reintroduced in 2012 as SB 409, and three Republican senators have taken the lead as sponsors. With Sen. Jim Forsythe (R-Strafford) as prime sponsor, we are more confident than ever in our chances of getting this bill passed.

There have been some changes to the bill since last year. Most notably, since the U.S. attorney for New Hampshire has indicated that dispensaries may not be safe from federal prosecution, we have decided to abandon the bill's distribution model and replace it with simpler language allowing patients or their designated caregivers to possess up to six mature plants. Maine and Vermont are examples of states which first implemented laws allowing patients and caregivers to cultivate, then later decided to add a small number of state-regulated dispensaries to help ensure safe, legal access for all qualifying patients.

In 2009, we came within a whisker of passing medical marijuana legislation. On July 10, 2009, Gov. John Lynch (D) vetoed HB 648, which had passed both chambers by strong margins, even after advocates made changes specifically to assuage his concerns. On October 28, 2009, the General Court narrowly failed to get the two-thirds majorities it needed to override Gov. Lynch's veto. The override passed in the House, 240-115, but came up two votes short in the Senate, 14-10.

Medical marijuana is widely supported by the New Hampshire public, even as Gov. Lynch and some legislators lag behind. A 2008 Mason-Dixon poll showed that 71% of New Hampshire voters (including majorities of Republicans, Democrats, and independents) support allowing seriously ill patients to use and grow doctor-recommended medical marijuana for personal use.

One week after the state Senate voted unanimously to kill a bill reducing marijuana penalties, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on HB 1373 on April 28. This bill would establish a legislative commission to study the effects of New Hampshire's drug laws, including marijuana prohibition. Sponsored by Rep. Joel Winters (D-Manchester) and Rep. Paul Ingbretson (R-Haverhill), HB 1373 passed the House by a unanimous voice vote on February 17. The bill passed through the Senate on May 12, and returned to the House which passed the slightly amended Senate version by a voice vote. It now goes to Gov. John Lynch (D) for his signature. Please call Gov. Lynch to tell him you support this bill.