New Hampshire Senate Tables Cannabis Legalization Bills

Efforts to legalize marijuana in New Hampshire have encountered significant setbacks, as the state Senate tabled HB 75—a bill that would have allowed adult-use cannabis—effectively stalling its progress for this legislative session. Additionally, the Senate Judiciary Committee narrowly voted to recommend killing another House-passed bill, HB 198, which sought to legalize noncommercial possession and use of marijuana for adults 21 and older. Supporters argued that legalization would reduce unnecessary arrests and align New Hampshire with neighboring states, but Republican opposition cited public safety concerns and the potential negative influence on youth. The committee's decisions reflect ongoing legislative disagreements, especially over how cannabis should be regulated and sold, which have repeatedly hindered reform efforts in the state. Meanwhile, similar attempts to legalize cannabis in other states, such as Indiana, have also been rejected by Republican-controlled legislative bodies, maintaining prohibitions despite advocates' arguments for regulation, revenue, and criminal justice reform.