CONCORD — New Hampshire lawmakers on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to legalizing recreational marijuana, dismissing public safety and health concerns on a path to join scores of other states that have passed similar cannabis measures.
Lawmakers voted, 209-147, in favor of the bill that would legalize possession up to 1 ounce. Adults would be allowed to grow up to six plants, and a commission would be set up to license and regulate an industry supporters said could produce $33 million per year.
“I know change is hard. It’s a little scary,” the bill’s sponsor, Democratic Rep. Renny Cushing told lawmakers ahead of the vote. “But I think now is the time that New Hampshire makes the transition from prohibition to real legalization, taxation and regulation.”
Past efforts have failed in New Hampshire, but Democrats, who added legalization to their platform last year, now control both the House and Senate, though a spokesman for Republican Gov. Chris Sununu said the governor remains committed to vetoing the bill. Benjamin Vihstadt said Sununu agrees with law enforcement and public health officials who say “now is not the time for the recreational legalization of cannabis in New Hampshire.”
While the vote Wednesday falls short of the two-thirds majority to override a veto, Cushing said he expects it to pick up support and that it will eventually become law. “I’m confident that the force of history is with us,” he said.
The bill now goes to the Ways and Means Committee, where it will likely be voted through and get another House vote before moving to the Senate.
Ten states have legalized recreational marijuana — including the three bordering New Hampshire — while New York, New Jersey and others are considering it this year.
Opponents dominated much of the debate Wednesday, with several lawmakers raising concerns over health, motorists driving while high and marijuana being a gateway drug.
“Marijuana commercialization is wrong for New Hampshire’s young people, our communities,” Democratic Rep. Linda Harriott-Gathright said. “Allowing big marijuana into New Hampshire will allow this major industry to manufacture, sell and market an addictive substance to our kids setting them up for long-term health problems.”
Republican Rep. Stephen Pearson said that as a firefighter he sees the impacts of the opioid crisis. He said he fears legalization of marijuana could only add to the state’s drug problems.
“We are not going to solve our drug crisis by legalizing more drugs. This bill creates far more problems than its worth,” he said.
Supporters countered that the health concerns are overblown. They also said legalization would take sales from criminal gangs and ensure safer transactions and more reliable products. They also said legalization would be a boon to the economy.
“I don’t share my colleagues’ concern about cannabis. … I know we are dealing with the opioid epidemic but this is not that — not even close,” Democratic Rep. William Pearson said. “Rather, I would compare cannabis to coffee or sugar.”
Last year, Massachusetts opened the first recreational pot shops on the East Coast, and Canada legalized it in most provinces.