On Thursday, the New Hampshire House of Representatives rejected Governor Chris Sununu’s plan to legalize adult-use marijuana sales through a state-run retail model. This decision means New Hampshire remains the only New England state without state-regulated adult-use cannabis.
Conflicting Visions and Legislative Stalemate
The state Senate had revised the House-passed legalization bill to align with Sununu’s vision, which includes starting sales in 2026 at up to 15 state-run outlets. This model, similar to New Hampshire’s liquor sales, faces strong opposition in the libertarian-leaning House.
Future of Cannabis Legalization Uncertain
The bill now moves to a conference committee for further negotiation, but significant differences between the House and Senate make a compromise uncertain. With less than 1% of residents holding medical marijuana recommendations, New Hampshire remains a small cannabis market.
Lawmakers’ Statements
Republican state Rep. John Hunt criticized the Senate’s amendments, calling them overly intrusive. The future of cannabis legalization in New Hampshire remains unclear as lawmakers continue to debate the issue.
New Hampshire’s path to legalizing adult-use cannabis faces significant hurdles, with ongoing debates highlighting the challenges of reconciling different legislative visions.
