New Hampshire residents hoping to see marijuana decriminalized had those hopes raised after the state House approved—by a wide margin of 297 to 67—a decriminalization bill earlier this year; but Thursday, the bill was tabled in the N.H. Senate.
HB 618 would have removed criminal penalties for possession of up to a half ounce of marijuana. Possession of small amounts of marijuana would instead be a civil violation punishable by a $100 fine for a first offense, $200 for a second offense, and $500 for a third or subsequent offense. Currently, possession of any amount of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $2,000.
The bi-partisan bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Adam Schroadter (R-Rockingham); Rep. Joseph Lachance (R-Hillsborough); Rep. Carol McGuire (R-Merrimack); Rep. Keith Murphy (R-Hillsborough); Rep. Tammy Simmons (R-Hillsborough); Rep. Beaulieu (D-Hillsborough); Rep. Naida Kaen (D-Strafford); Rep. Larry Phillips (D-Cheshire).
"After Senators voted 9-15 to overturn the Judiciary Committee’s recommendation that the bill be killed, Sens. Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) and David Pierce (D-Etna) proposed a compromise floor amendment to HB 618. Four senators argued strongly against the bill and the amendment: David Boutin (R-Hooksett), Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry), Gary Daniels (R-Milford), and Jeannie Forrester (R-Meredith). Senators were unable to agree on the language and the bill was table," explains the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) in a press release about the bill's defeat.
“The Senate’s failure to adopt this moderate, commonsense legislation is truly stunning,” commented Matt Simon, Goffstown-based New England political director for the MPP, in the press release. “There is also exceptionally strong public support. Voters are clearly tired of New Hampshire being the only state left in New England that criminalizes people for simple marijuana possession.
“The senators who led the effort to block this bill should explain why they think citizens should be branded as criminals for possessing a substance that is less harmful than alcohol," added Simon.
The MPP cites a WMUR Granite State Poll released last week that found that 63 percent of adults in New Hampshire support removing criminal penalties for marijuana possession. Twenty-seven percent said they opposed the removal of criminal penalties.
"New Hampshire is the only state in New England that treats simple marijuana possession as a criminal offense with the potential for jail time. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have removed the threat of jail for simple marijuana possession. The Illinois General Assembly approved a similar measure last month, which is now awaiting action from the governor," according to the MPP release.
