On Tuesday, members of a New Hampshire Senate committee listened to testimonies regarding several cannabis bills that had previously been passed by the House. These bills range from allowing medical patients to cultivate cannabis at home to proposals for the full legalization of marijuana without regulation. However, the committee chose not to take immediate action on any of these bills during the hearing.
This hearing precedes an anticipated House floor discussion on additional drug reform measures later this week. These include a separate proposal for legalizing cannabis and a plan aimed at decriminalizing psilocybin.
Four cannabis-related bills were presented to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Among these were two bills from Rep. Wendy Thomas (D), focusing on medical dispensaries and home cultivation. Additionally, there was a bill from Rep. Jonah Wheeler (D) aimed at simplifying the process for expunging past cannabis offenses, alongside another from Rep. Kevin Verville (R) that seeks to legalize marijuana for adults aged 21 and older with unregulated sales.
Thomas’s HB 51 proposes that New Hampshire’s medical marijuana dispensaries, known as alternative treatment centers (ATCs), should be allowed to purchase non-intoxicating cannabinoid products from commercial producers. After lab testing, these products could be used in items sold to state-registered patients. The regulation of this activity would fall under the Department of Health and Human Services.
Importantly, this bill would not cover hemp-derived THC but would focus exclusively on non-intoxicating cannabinoids like cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG). Thomas explained that the current law mandates ATCs to produce all cannabinoids in-house, a requirement that made sense when the legislation was enacted in 2013. She pointed out that since hemp is now federally legal, there are numerous legal suppliers of CBD and other non-intoxicating cannabinoids.
Thomas expressed that this change would enable ATCs to manufacture some products at a lower cost, which could translate to more affordable options for patients in New Hampshire.
Jerry Knirk, chair of the Therapeutic Cannabis Medical Oversight Board, expressed his support for the proposal. He informed the committee that ATCs already offer products high in CBD and low in THC, indicating a significant need for CBD and other non-intoxicating cannabinoids in their offerings.
Knirk highlighted that due to the high security costs associated with cultivating THC-rich plants, ATCs face challenges in producing adequate supplies of CBD and similar cannabinoids. He noted that industrial hemp could be cultivated commercially without the stringent security measures, making it a cost-effective source for these non-intoxicating cannabinoids.
Matt Simon, the director of public and government relations at GraniteLeaf Cannabis, a medical marijuana provider, added that the current requirement to grow cannabis indoors under high-intensity lights incurs significant costs. He pointed out that while hemp-derived CBD products are already available, they often lack regulation.
Simon warned that these products may not be accurately labeled, as lab testing is typically voluntary. He stated that HB 51 would ensure that patients receive lab-tested, hemp-derived non-intoxicating cannabinoids, which could lower prices and satisfy both patients and medical providers without introducing new risks in New Hampshire.
However, Pat Sullivan, representing the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police, stated that the organization opposes the bill due to concerns about regulation and safety.
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