The future remains uncertain for cannabis legalization legislation in New Hampshire. (Getty Images)
In a last-minute deal Thursday, House and Senate negotiators reached a compromise on a bill that would legalize cannabis in New Hampshire, an effort that has failed multiple times before.
But while the deal keeps House Bill 1633 alive, its future remains uncertain. Lawmakers in both chambers must still agree to several newly proposed changes when they meet a final time next Thursday.
Rep. Anita Burroughs, a Glen Democrat and co-sponsor of the House bill, agreed to the deal with what sounded like reluctance.
“I’m signing this with a lot of angst and a lot of deliberations on my part,” said Burroughs, one of the three House negotiators. “However, I think it’s time we legalize cannabis, and I think this is the right move.”
Senate President Jeb Bradley, a Wolfeboro Republican who opposes legalization and helped negotiate the compromise, said he’d agree to the deal to give the House and Senate a chance to vote a final time but would vote against it.
The compromise includes measures Gov. Chris Sununu said he would support. His spokesperson said he could not say whether Sununu will sign it because he had not read the compromise bill.
If the bill passes both chambers and is signed by the governor, all but the decriminalization measure would take effect in 2026.
by Annmarie Timmins, New Hampshire Bulletin
June 6, 2024
by Annmarie Timmins, New Hampshire Bulletin
June 6, 2024
In a last-minute deal Thursday, House and Senate negotiators reached a compromise on a bill that would legalize cannabis in New Hampshire, an effort that has failed multiple times before.
But while the deal keeps House Bill 1633 alive, its future remains uncertain. Lawmakers in both chambers must still agree to several newly proposed changes when they meet a final time next Thursday.
Rep. Anita Burroughs, a Glen Democrat and co-sponsor of the House bill, agreed to the deal with what sounded like reluctance.
“I’m signing this with a lot of angst and a lot of deliberations on my part,” said Burroughs, one of the three House negotiators. “However, I think it’s time we legalize cannabis, and I think this is the right move.”
Senate President Jeb Bradley, a Wolfeboro Republican who opposes legalization and helped negotiate the compromise, said he’d agree to the deal to give the House and Senate a chance to vote a final time but would vote against it.
The compromise includes measures Gov. Chris Sununu said he would support. His spokesperson said he could not say whether Sununu will sign it because he had not read the compromise bill.
If the bill passes both chambers and is signed by the governor, all but the decriminalization measure would take effect in 2026.
New Hampshire Bulletin is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. New Hampshire Bulletin maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Dana Wormald for questions: info@newhampshirebulletin.com. Follow New Hampshire Bulletin on Facebook and Twitter.
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Senior reporter Annmarie Timmins is a New Hampshire native who covered state government, courts, and social justice issues for the Concord Monitor for 25 years. During her time with the Monitor, she won a Nieman Fellowship to study journalism and mental health courts at Harvard for a year. She has taught journalism at the University of New Hampshire and writing at the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications. Email: [email protected]
New Hampshire Bulletin is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
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© New Hampshire Bulletin, 2024
Negotiators reach deal on cannabis legalization. Now lawmakers must agree. • New Hampshire Bulletin – New Hampshire Bulletin
