This article is by April Nowicki, special to VTDigger
New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan on Tuesday signed into law a bill allowing “the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes,” making the Granite State the 19th state to legalize medical marijuana.
The new law states that patients must have “a severely debilitating or terminal medical condition … that has not responded to previously prescribed medication or surgical measures.” Colorado patients do not need to provide proof that they have attempted other methods to relieve symptoms of debilitating conditions.
It is still illegal for N.H. residents to grow their own cannabis. This stipulation was previously included on the bill, but was removed after Hassan indicated that “the state couldn’t safely enforce letting patients and caregivers grow their own,” as reported by Kevin Landrigan of the Nashua Telegraph in May.
N.H. state Sen. Nancy Stiles (R-Hampton) said that the grow-your-own marijuana potential was removed when it became clear that there was no other way that the bill would pass. Hassan’s website does not address either why the option was removed. Her office declined to provide any additional information.
The law states that patients may possess up to two ounces of usable cannabis. It allows people with marijuana patient registry cards, or the equivalent, the same possession, but out-of-staters may not buy marijuana in N.H.
N.H. was the last of the six New England states to legalize medical marijuana, nearly 15 years after Maine’s transition in 1999.
Vermont approved the use of medical marijuana in 2004, and as of July 1 the state reduced penalties for possession of small amounts of the drug to a civil rather than criminal offense, making Vermont the 17th state to decriminalize limited possession.
