Good News For MMJ Patients In New Hampshire, House Approves Home Cultivation Bill

A proposal by Rep. Wendy Thomas (D) to permit medical marijuana patients to cultivate their own plants for personal consumption was passed by the New Hampshire House of Representatives.

“For many poor people with serious medical conditions, medical expenses and a reduced ability to work make getting cannabis difficult,” Thomas recently said. “By allowing home cultivation, you are giving the therapeutic patients financial relief for their non-insurance-covered medicine.”

The legislation was cleared by the committee a few weeks ago and endorsed by the full chamber through an “uncontested consent calendar on Wednesday,” reported Marijuana Moment. The bill now heads to the NH Senate.

What’s In It?

The legislation would allow registered marijuana patients and designated caregivers to cultivate up to three mature cannabis plants, three immature plants, and 12 seedlings at their homes. They would have to report it to regulators at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

In addition, Bill HB431 would broaden the scope of plants that medical cannabis dispensaries can grow for their patients, raising the maximum amount per patient to 80 fully grown plants, 160 young plants, and an unlimited number of seedlings.

Accessibility And Cost, Two Key Issues Addressed By The Measure

A majority report from the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee states that the bill aims to tackle two significant issues faced by the community, namely accessibility and cost.

The report notes that the nearest Alternative Treatment Center (ATC) may be quite distant and prices are often prohibitively high. "Most therapeutic cannabis patients will continue to purchase their product from ATCs and those who choose to grow their own will be able to purchase seedlings from the ATC or grow from seeds according to their preference.”

Recreational Marijuana Developments In New Hampshire

The NH House of Representatives recently passed a new bill to legalize cannabis without any regulations or limitations on weed in the state. The bill, sponsored by Republican Kevin Verville, aims to remove marijuana from the state's list of prohibited substances. The measure recently overturned its Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.

Moreover, a bipartisan measure was filed for the 2023 session in December. The legislation from Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R) and Minority Leader Matthew Wilhelm (D) would allow those over 21 to possess or give away up to 4 ounces of marijuana and also clear records of past marijuana possession offenses. In addition, marijuana sales would be taxed at 8.5%. HB 639 would also set up a new market with state-approved retailers to sell cannabis.

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Photo: Courtesy Of David Gabric On Unsplash