NEWS - New Hampshire's Path To Cannabis Legalization Hits A Roadblock | Benzinga
In a highly contested decision, the New Hampshire House of Representatives rejected a bill that sought to legalize recreational cannabis. The rejection occurred with a close vote of 178-173, derailing hopes for legalization anytime soon.
House Bill 1633, which proposed the legalization for adults over the age of 21 by 2026 and the establishment of up to 15 state-overseen retail locations, failed to bridge the deep divide between the House and Senate on the approach to cannabis sales.
Despite previous attempts at compromise, tensions flared over the retail model promoted by Governor Chris Sununu (R) and the Senate, which contrasted sharply with the more open model preferred by some House members. This model would have granted the state's Liquor Commission significant control over the cannabis stores’ operations, something that several legislators found too restrictive.
‘Nobody Likes This Bill’
Rep. Jared Sullivan (D) said that “The perplexing thing about the immortality of this bill is that literally nobody in this body likes this bill.”