New Hampshire Governor Decides on Fate of Cannabis Legislation

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]N[/dropcap]ews on the New Hampshire cannabis front is both positive and negative, as Gov. Chris Sununu signed one cannabis bill, but vetoed another.

On July 12, Gov. Sununu signed an annulment measure, House Bill 399,  for those who have been convicted of a cannabis crime prior to Sept. 16, 2017. This includes anyone who was caught in possession of up to 3/4 of an ounce of cannabis. This law will take effect beginning on Jan. 1, 2020. After that point, those who desire to have their record expunged must petition the court that issued the conviction in order to have it removed. It is unclear how many new Hampshire residents could be affected by this change, but the estimate is currently in the thousands, according to New England Political Director of the Marijuana Policy Project, Matt Simon. “HB 399 will allow these Granite Staters to have their records annulled so they can move forward in life with a clean slate,” he said of the decision.

However, on that same day Sununu vetoed a medical cannabis bill that would have lessened the restrictions on providers. Essentially the bill would have removed the requirement for a patient to have a “three month relationship” with a provider in order to receive medicine. In Sununu’s opinion, it is essential for a patient to have a trusting relationship with their provider. “Maintaining a strong patient-provider relationship is an important part of ensuring that our medical marijuana program is used successfully and responsibly,” Sununu said in a statement. “A doctor or other health care provider uses their knowledge and relationship with a patient to explore the right treatment options for that individual. The exemptions in the current statute allow for patients in need to obtain appropriate treatment while preserving responsible prescribing.”