The New Hampshire House on Thursday passed an adult-use legalization bill by a 272-109 vote, The Center Square reports. The measure moves next to the state Senate.
New Hampshire is the lone New England state to not allow cannabis sales to adults.
In a statement, Republican Rep. Jason Obsorne, a co-sponsor of the legislation, said he is “pleased to see New Hampshire take a step toward relieving gangsters and thugs from control of this market” and keep “dangerous untested products away from consumers, and protecting children from harmful age-inappropriate products.”
Democratic Rep. Matt Wilhelm, who also co-sponsored the bill, described the bill’s passage as “decisive” and sending a “strong message that this is the year to legalize adult-use cannabis in the Granite State.”
In January, Gov. Chris Sununu (R) told New Hampshire Public Radio that he didn’t expect a cannabis legalization bill to make it to his desk this session. Sununu opposed the reforms. The state Senate has never passed an adult-use legalization bill but the House has passed the reforms on two previous occasions. (Full Story)