Efforts to legalize cannabis in New Hampshire are coming back this legislative session, after years of legislative defeats.
Lawmakers have tried simple legalization bills and complex legislation. Both approaches have crashed against opposition in the state Senate. But this year, supporters say they’re coming at the problem with their biggest coalition yet.
A sprawling bill to legalize the drug, allow for it to be grown at home, and regulate and tax retail operations is set to be introduced in the New Hampshire House this year, and it has the backing of House Majority Leader Jason Osborne and House Democratic Leader Matt Wilhelm, a rare joint effort.
More:NH Republican, Democratic leaders unite on bill to legalize sale of marijuana and tax it
This session’s effort has a diverse array of backers in the state, from ACLU of New Hampshire to Americans for Prosperity New Hampshire to the Marijuana Policy Project. Supporters say the final bill is the result of months of discussions with a number of stakeholders.
And legalization advocates argue they have their best chance yet of delivering a bill to Gov. Chris Sununu’s desk, pointing to a handful of freshmen Republican senators who may push them over the finish line.
Still, recent history is not on supporters’ side, and the Senate can be fickle no matter who sits in it. Sununu, who has veered between opposing cannabis legalization to expressing cautious openness, has not given indications of his position. And while…
