The New Hampshire Legislature begins its yearly session Jan. 7, with votes expected on a series of bills held over from last year, including one to legalize marijuana for recreational use.
Lawmakers will also consider final passage for a bill that would penalize adults for transporting a minor for a surgical procedure, such as an abortion, without parental authorization.
Rep. Jared Sullivan, D-Bethlehem, is the prime sponsor of the pot measure, House Bill 186, which cleared the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee, 10-7, on Oct. 28.
“It is time to stop arresting people for simple possession of cannabis and start treating it with the same fairness and regulation we apply to alcohol,” he said in a message on the House agenda. “The majority of our constituents already support legal cannabis, and it is time for the law to reflect the will of the people.”
He also said legalization would create economic opportunities and generate revenue for drug prevention and treatment as well as for public education.
He told The Sentinel in October that the House will likely pass his bill on a bipartisan basis. But he acknowledged that its chance for passage is not good in the N.H. Senate, which has previously rejected legalization bills. Gov. Kelly Ayotte, a Republican, also opposes legalizing the drug.
Neighboring states have legalized marijuana for recreational use, but opponents in New Hampshire often cite public health concerns.
Rep. Lilli Walsh, R-Hampstead, wrote an agenda message in opposition to the bill.
“Legalizing marijuana in New Hampshire would come with significant psychiatric, public safety, and societal costs that far outweigh any projected state revenue,” she said.
Walsh said legalization would be dangerous for young people, and could lead to an increased number of people driving while impaired.
“While some argue that state-controlled sales could generate revenue, the long-term costs — additional strain on police, fire, emergency medical, and mental health services — will far exceed any financial gain,” she said. “New Hampshire does not need to follow the path of Vermont, Massachusetts, or Maine; we should instead lead with prudence and prioritize public health and safety over profit.”
Also on Wednesday, lawmakers will consider giving final passage to House Bill 191, which would mandate criminal and civil penalties for transporting an unemancipated minor to a surgical procedure without written, notarized parental consent.
The House passed the bill, 180-164, on March 26. If senators pass it on Wednesday, the measure would go to Ayotte, who would consider whether to sign it into law.
Last year, Rep. Terry Roy, R-Deerfield, submitted written testimony in favor of the bill.
“In recent years there have been stories of minors being transported by adults within and without the state for medical procedures without their parents knowledge and consent,” Roy said. “Whether it be an abortion, gender reassignment, or plastic surgery, parents and guardians must be involved in these important decisions.”
Rep. Alissandra Murray, D-Manchester, spoke against HB 191 before the full House on March 26.
“This bill has significant issues around privacy and government overreach,” Murray said. “This bill obstructs access to health care, including requiring notarized consent to drive a teen to get their tonsils removed or face criminalizing grandma.”
In 2024, a teacher filed a Jane Doe lawsuit in Merrimack County Superior Court against the state, challenging the state’s revocation of her teaching license after a private school fired her for driving an 18-year-old student to get an abortion.
The lawsuit said the student did not reside with her parents and didn’t want to tell her relatives she was pregnant. It also said the teacher didn’t influence the student on whether to get an abortion.
She withdrew her lawsuit after her license was reinstated.
Other bills to be considered Wednesday in the N.H. Legislature include:
House Bill 675, which would cap school budget hikes to the inflation rate and growth in attendance. A district could exceed the cap for purchasing or building new facilities. A two-thirds vote by residents could break the cap.
House Bill 155, which would reduce the Business Enterprise Tax from the current 0.55 percent to 0.50 percent.
House Bill 392, which would dissolve the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Health Equity, the state Department of Environmental Services’ functions for civil rights and environmental justice and the Governor’s Council on Diversity and Inclusion.
Rick Green can be reached at 603-352-1234, extension 1435, or rgreen@keenesentinel.com.
These articles are being shared by partners in the Granite State News Collaborative. Don’t just read this. Share it with one person who doesn’t usually follow local news — that’s how we make an impact. For more information, visit collaborativenh.org.