Editor's note: New Hampshire is the 19th state to allow some form of medical marijuana. The Telegraph's six-day series, Cannabis Care, examines New Hampshire's therapeutic marijuana legislation and how the law will work, including who can get the drug, how much it will cost, and what needs to happen before the first batch of marijuana is legally distributed in the state. CONCORD Gov. Maggie Hassan made New Hampshire the 19th state to legalize use of medical marijuana for seriously ill patients Tuesday, calling it the "compassionate and right policy" because it will prevent abuse. [continues 285 words]
CONCORD - Gov. Maggie Hassan has until Friday to sign legislation making New Hampshire the 19th state to let seriously ill people use marijuana to treat chronic pain. The bill was sent to the governor Monday after Senate President Peter Bragdon, R-Milford, signed off on it Sunday. Hassan agreed to sign the measure after the Legislature removed from the original bill the right of patients or caregivers to grow their own marijuana. Instead, those who are eligible will have to purchase the drug at up to four state-regulated dispensaries. [continues 63 words]
CONCORD - The New Hampshire Legislature will vote next week on a bill to legalize medical use of marijuana for seriously ill patients after a speedy compromise emerged Tuesday that Gov. Maggie Hassan has indicated she will sign into law. The agreement occurred after House negotiators gave up on trying to allow patients and caregivers to grow marijuana at home. In return, Senate negotiators agreed to increase from three to four the number of state-licensed dispensaries that would sell it. State Rep. Jim MacKay, D- Concord, said supporters of this issue need to be pragmatic enough to accept this compromise, given that the state has a governor willing to sign something. [continues 578 words]
CONCORD The near-perennial campaign to legalize medical use of marijuana got off to its best start ever with the 14-1 endorsement from a key House committee Thursday. The biggest change inside a 26-page rewrite on the issue was a marketing one, dubbing it "therapeutic cannabis" at the urging of the state's medical lobby that remains opposed to the bill. "I'm perfectly fine with it. I don't care if we call it pretzels as long as it gets this in the hands of those with debilitating illness who really need it," said Matt Simon who is the state's legislative lobbyist for the Marijuana Policy Project. [continues 530 words]
CONCORD Clayton Holton, 27, of Rochester, suffers from advanced Duchenne muscular dystrophy that's left him at 66 pounds and for years the only gotten relief he's found has come from smoking, illegally, marijuana. Holton gave emotional testimony to a House committee Thursday on legislation to legalize marijuana use for those suffering with a debilitating illness and warned he can't wait any longer for the Legislature to act. "I've been coming to these hearings for six years now and the same arguing comes out for and against and it's not getting anywhere," Holton said during the 3 -1/2 hour hearing. "It's coming towards the end of my time. This may be the absolutely last time I can make it here." [continues 780 words]
CONCORD - New Hampshire stands a much better chance of legalizing medical use of marijuana than at any time in state history. That's because for the first time, both major political parties have nominated a candidate - Republican Ovide Lamontagne, of Manchester, and Democrat Maggie Hassan, of Exeter - who embrace the change. Three-time Libertarian candidate John Babiarz, of Grafton, likewise has endorsed New Hampshire becoming the 18th state to make marijuana available to chronically ill patients. This stands in stark contrast to the last eight years. [continues 772 words]
CONCORD - The determined opposition of nine state Senate Republicans and one Democrat blocked New Hampshire from becoming one of 14 states that legalized the possession of marijuana by chronically ill patients and their caregivers. Wednesday's 14-10 vote to override Gov. John Lynch's July veto of the bill fell two votes shy of the super-majority needed to defy Lynch's action and pass the bill into law. After three months of private lobbying, no minds were changed as the Senate vote was identical to the one when it sent the measure to Lynch's desk back in May. [continues 981 words]
CONCORD - Legislative and health-care supporters seeking to legalize the use of medical marijuana for the chronically ill vowed to overcome Gov. John Lynch's veto of the bill Friday. Lynch cited concerns with what he considered to be loose guidelines for cultivation and distribution in refusing to make New Hampshire the 14th state to allow people with a debilitating condition to use marijuana for relief. Lynch, a three-term Democrat, praised lawmakers for trying to address his concerns but concluded the bill (HB 648) had "too many defects to move forward." [continues 720 words]
CONCORD -- The controversial bill to legally let those with debilitating illness use marijuana to relieve pain is one person away from getting to the desk of Gov. John Lynch. The bill (HB 648) needs the signature of Senate President Sylvia Larsen before it goes to Lynch, according to Assistant Secretary of State Paula Penney. Once the bill is Lynch's possession, the governor has five days to decide whether to sign, veto the bill or let it become law without his signature. Sundays and holidays don't count during this five-day waiting period. [continues 226 words]
CONCORD -- A conservative watchdog group called upon Gov. John Lynch on Monday to veto a bill legalizing medical use of marijuana on financial grounds. Cornerstone Policy Research said a 20-page compromise (HB 648) approved by lawmakers would require an "overly cumbersome and expensive bureaucratic response." The bill calls for an estimated $250,000 for the Department of Health and Human Services to oversee the dispensing of the drug exclusively to patients who have a debilitating illness. But Cornerstone Executive Director Kevin Smith said the HHS estimate was based on a previous version of the bill that had allowed patients and caregivers to obtain and grow marijuana on their own. [continues 336 words]
CONCORD -- With little controversy, the New Hampshire Legislature sought to make this the 14th state to give the chronically ill access to marijuana to relieve their suffering. The House of Representatives approved the latest compromise late Wednesday, 232-108. The state Senate endorsed it, 14-10. But the bill (HB 648) still faces its stiffest test from three-term Democratic Gov. John Lynch, who has yet to say whether he can accept a new compromise. Lynch told reporters his biggest concern was an earlier bill that made it too easy for residents to cultivate marijuana, a substance that would remain illegal to possess under federal criminal law. [continues 436 words]
CONCORD - House supporters of legalizing medical marijuana for chronic or terminally ill patients slowed their campaign Wednesday after fearing Gov. John Lynch would veto the bill (HB 648) as the state Senate had passed it. The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to create a team of legislative negotiators to try and work out differences between the two branches. State Rep. Cindy Rosenwald, D-Nashua, said there's broad agreement among House and Senate supporters. The goal of the working group, she said, would be to try and address eight specific problems Lynch and his staff identified during private meetings with House supporters earlier this week. [continues 564 words]
CONCORD - Wheelchair-bound Clayton Holden, 23, said that at least 10 times, police in this state have approached but never arrested him for smoking marijuana. "They took one look at me, one look at my condition, and they tell me to be careful and have a good day," Holden told the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday. Since he was 10, Holden has suffered from Duchene Muscular Dystrophy and found using marijuana dulls the chronic pain and allows him to have to use less other medication to function. [continues 671 words]
CONCORD A bill to legalize the medical use of marijuana for those dealing with chronic pain easily cleared the House of Representatives on Wednesday. The House approved the bill (HB 648) and sent it to the state Senate for review, 234-137. The bill permits possession by caregivers or eligible patients of six plants and up to two ounces of useable marijuana for those with a "debilitating medical condition" under the supervision of a physician. The pain has to be persistent for at least three months to qualify. [continues 839 words]
The following is the legislation put before lawmakers during the 2009 session to either expand the legal use or possession of marijuana or to make it easier to prosecute those suspected of driving after having used the illegal drug. Bill No. HB 555 Sponsor: Rep. Steven Lindsey, D-Keene. Description: This would criminalize possession of up to an ounce of marijuana and subject offenders to a fine of $100. The authorities must notify the parents of anyone found guilty of this who is under 18 and that person must then attend a drug awareness course. [continues 417 words]
CONCORD - In a stunning development, the House of Representatives voted Tuesday to decriminalize possession of up to a quarter-ounce of marijuana. Currently, possession of this small amount equal to about seven or eight joints can result in up to a year in jail or $2,000 fine. The typical punishment is a large fine. The amended bill makes it a violation rather than a criminal misdemeanor with a fine of up to $200. The 193-141 vote came over the strong opposition of a House policy committee and law enforcement officials. Rep. Jeffrey Fontas, D-Nashua, said it's unfair young students lose their federally financed aid for college after any drug conviction. [continues 720 words]
Bill Would Decriminalize Having 1.25oz. Of Marijuana CONCORD - Richard Van Wickler runs the Cheshire County jail system, but he joined a roomful of supporters Tuesday to urge marijuana possession be decriminalized to save both taxpayers' money and the lives of young people who experimented with it and got caught. "Peaceful adults in possession of small amounts of marijuana do not harm others, but they do occupy our police, clog up our court system and take up space in our jails," Van Wickler told the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.Two Nashua legislators are seeking to turn possession of up to 1.25 ounces of pot from a criminal offense into a $200 violation. [continues 634 words]
CONCORD - A New Hampshire police officer said Wednesday that decriminalizing marijuana would help those addicted get treatment and make it more difficult for young people to obtain it. "I can tell you the current system we have is allowing our kids to easily get it," said Brad Jardis, a Hooksett resident who has served in recent years as a patrolman in Epping and Plaistow. The Jardis testimony broke up a predictable band of speakers from both sides one would expect to hear from about legislation (HB 92) dealing with putting an end to criminal penalties for the possession and sale of marijuana. [continues 457 words]
CONCORD - A move to decriminalize the use of marijuana tops the agenda as the New Hampshire Legislature begins to hear from the public on its 1,400 bills for the 2007 session. As usual, the finished fine print is coming out slowly for bills in part because the newly sworn-in lawmakers need to sign off on 995 pieces of legislation. As a result, the public hearings before House committees start slowly this week. Still, it's a safe bet the marijuana legislation in front of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on Wednesday morning will spark plenty of debate. [continues 339 words]
CONCORD - A two-year legislative campaign to require insurers to offer some coverage for substance abuse treatment headed to the desk of a supportive Gov. Jeanne Shaheen on Thursday. The bill requires all health insurers offer some form of inpatient and outpatient coverage for substance abuse but lets insurers set caps on the number of visits and annual costs they would cover. Insurers would also have to cover services given by licensed alcohol- and drug-abuse counselors and treatment for two common eating disorders as well as chronic post-traumatic stress disorder. [continues 466 words]
