CONCORD, NH — On Tuesday, the inaugural meeting of New Hampshire’s marijuana legalization study commission will take place in Concord.
The commission, which was created by the passage of HB 215, is tasked with studying the potential impacts of legalizing, regulating, and taxing marijuana for adults’ use.
The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. in Room 201 of the Legislative Office Building in Concord. Advocates will be there to observe and participate, despite the concerns they have raised regarding the make-up of the commission.
“This commission has a fantastic opportunity to learn what is really happening in states that have pioneered sensible marijuana regulations,” said Matt Simon, New England political director for the Marijuana Policy Project. “Sadly, the commission includes staunch opponents of reform such as the Association of Chiefs of Police and New Futures, but supportive organizations such as the ACLU-NH were excluded in the language of the final bill. Additionally, none of the six legislators who were appointed to the commission has ever publicly expressed support for ending marijuana prohibition.”
“Regardless of what this commission decides to recommend, most Granite Staters clearly recognize that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol, and they’re ready for the state to start treating it that way,” he said.
Eight states have enacted laws legalizing and regulating marijuana for adult use, including Massachusetts and Maine, all through ballot initiatives.
A poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center in April and May of 2017 found that 68% of Granite Staters support legalizing marijuana.
Tags: American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire, Marijuana Policy Project, New Hampshire, New Hampshire marijuana legalization, NH HB 215
