It was an exciting day on Thursday for advocates of marijuana in New Hampshire. The state’s House has again voted in favor of a bill that would legalize the drug.
The bill now heads to the Senate and if it passes and is enacted into a law, would allow adults 21 and older to possess, consume, cultivate, gift, and purchase marijuana from licensed retailers. The bill also would impose a nine percent tax on retail cannabis sales and a five percent tax on wholesale marijuana. Medical cannabis would not be taxed.
There would be a governor-appointed commission that would be responsible for developing regulatory policies and issuing the licenses.
The House voted 200-163 to pass the bill.
Rep. Richard Ames (D) who supports the bill had said before the vote that “prohibition has not and does not work” and “has fostered an illegal and profoundly harmful black market.”
“The House should be applauded for seeking to end New Hampshire’s unfortunate status as an island of prohibition in a sea of freedom,” Matt Simon, New England political director for the Marijuana Policy Project said to Marijuana Moment. “Next, advocates will face the difficult task of trying to convince the Senate to stand up for sensible cannabis policies.”
