New Hampshire’s Republican Gov. Chris Sununu will not sign into law a bill to legalize recreational that was passed last week by the state House of Representatives, according to media reports. The House passed the bill for a required second time on Thursday, just over a week after the measure’s original approval.
The measure, HB 1633, was introduced at the beginning of the year by Republican state Rep. Erica Layon. The bill was approved in the House on April 11 by a vote of 239-136. Under New Hampshire state law, legislation with financial elements must be passed twice. The first time the marijuana legalization measure was up for a vote in February, the chamber advanced the bill by a vote of 239-14.
Republican Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire is unlikely to sign a cannabis legalization bill ... [+]
If passed by the state Senate and signed into law by Republican Governor Chris Sununu, the bill would legalize marijuana for adults aged 21 and older, who would be permitted to possess up to four ounces of weed. The measure also legalizes the commercial cannabis production and sales under a tightly regulated model overseen by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission. The bill only allows for 15 retail cannabis dispensaries to operate statewide to serve a population of nearly 1.4 million people.
The measure, however, does not conform to conditions set by Sununu. Last year the governor said he would sign a tightly regulated marijuana legislation bill, changing his stance on the issue after years of opposition.
“Governor Sununu has been crystal clear about the framework needed for a legalization bill to earn his support, focusing on harm reduction and keeping it out of kids’ hands,” his office said in a statement to reporters after the House passed the marijuana bill on Thursday, according to a report from Marijuana Moment. “The legislation passed today doesn’t get us there but the Governor looks forward to working with the Senate to see if we can get it done.”
Governor Wants State-Run Weed Shops
The governor is seeking a tightly regulated recreational marijuana program, with retail outlets restricted to state-supervised franchises. The model is unpopular with many House lawmakers, however, who feel such close involvement would subject the state to legal risks.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu
Layon says she has approached Sununu’s office several times to confer on the legislation. The governor’s office has communicated with other lawmakers about the subject, but his office has not responded to Layon’s request for collaboration.
“The bill that passed the House reflects the Governor’s guidelines as I understood them, until his last minute embrace of a franchise model,” Layon told Marijuana Moment on Friday. “I made dozens of attempts to meet with the Governor and his staff to get into the policy details, but the best meeting I achieved was a walk-and-talk with him through the halls of the Capitol.”
The bill now goes to the Senate, where it could be amended to align with the governor’s conditions for legalizing marijuana. But Layon says that such a bill may not find the support it needs for success in the House.
“There is a real danger that the House may not accept what comes back from the Senate,” Layon added, “so I look forward to talking with my colleagues to ensure that anything we receive can pass without a Committee of Conference.”
