New marijuana legalization bill gets New Hampshire hearing – The Boston Globe

CONCORD, N.H — The New Hampshire Legislature is as soon as once more debating leisure use of marijuana however efforts to legalize it nonetheless face vital hurdles.

Within the decade for the reason that state legalized medical marijuana, the Home has handed leisure marijuana payments a number of occasions solely to see them get killed within the Senate. Republican Governor Chris Sununu additionally has been an opponent, and his workplace mentioned Wednesday that he doesn’t anticipate new laws to succeed in his desk this 12 months.

Undeterred, a coalition that features each the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire and the conservative group People for Prosperity is backing a bipartisan invoice to legalize the drug, regulate and tax retail operations, and permit it to be grown at dwelling. Many of the income would go towards decreasing the state’s pension legal responsibility, with some going to substance abuse prevention packages and different teams.

Sponsors embody each Republican Home majority chief Jason Osborne and Home Democratic chief Matt Wilhelm.

“What you’re looking at is a results of numerous months of labor by a whole coalition of teams and advocates, every thing from the enterprise aspect to the patron aspect, the civil rights aspect to the financial liberty aspect, in addition to the restoration neighborhood and other people involved about little one security,” Osborne advised the Home Commerce and Client Affairs Committee. “It’s about time we get one thing completed.”

Wilhelm emphasised the lasting hurt that unequal enforcement of present marijuana legal guidelines has on individuals of shade, the potential benefits of legalization, and polling that exhibits greater than 70 % of residents assist it.

“It’s clear communities, households, retirement safety, and the financial system might be stronger as soon as we legalize hashish in New Hampshire,” he mentioned.

Opponents raised considerations about well being and public security.

Bedford Police Chief John Bryfonski, talking on behalf of an affiliation of 160 chiefs, mentioned marijuana legalization has elevated “tragedy and chaos on our highways.”

“There may be nothing on this invoice that may create a possibility for legislation enforcement to have the ability to shield you and your households from marijuana impaired drivers,” he mentioned.

Bryfonski argued that the US already has already paid an amazing worth after having been tricked by the tobacco and pharmaceutical industries.

“The query now’s, are we going to be bamboozled by the marijuana trade? That’s a call that you’ll have to make,” he mentioned. “But it surely’s the women and men of legislation enforcement that should choose up the items.”

Requested for the governor’s place on the invoice, Sununu spokesperson Ben Vihstadt didn’t reply straight.

“Governor Sununu has completed extra on the problems surrounding marijuana reform than another governor in New Hampshire historical past,” Vihstadt mentioned.

Sununu signed laws decriminalizing small quantities of marijuana, increasing entry to medical marijuana, and making a system for annulling previous convictions for marijuana possession. However a invoice to legalize leisure use has by no means reached his desk.

“With teen drug use and overdoses on the rise, it’s not anticipated that the Legislature will see this as a time to disregard the information and transfer it ahead,” Vihstadt mentioned.