The New Hampshire House of Representatives was scheduled to vote on House Bill 492 yesterday, but the vote never materialized. New Hampshire HB 492 would legalize marijuana marijuana for adults over 21. There were a lot of hopes that the bill would advance yesterday in the New Hampshire House of Representatives. I know a lot of national activists were predicting that New Hampshire would be the first state legislature to legalize marijuana.
According the Facebook page for a rally that was held yesterday in conjunction with the potential vote, the vote has been delayed by a week. However, a delay in voting could also mean that that bill could just get tabled, which is about the same as saying it’s dead. Usually when a vote is planned, but doesn’t happen, it’s because the bill’s sponsor(s) couldn’t drum up enough votes behind the scenes, and they want to delay the vote to get more time. Sometimes the extra time works, but often it doesn’t.
According to the New Hampshire House Bill 492:
If undertaken by a person 21 years of age or older, the following acts shall not be illegal under New Hampshire law or be a basis for seizure or forfeiture of assets under New Hampshire law:
I. Possessing, consuming, using, displaying, obtaining, purchasing, or transporting marijuana accessories, or marijuana in the amount of one ounce or less including up to 5 grams of hashish.
II. Possessing, growing, processing, or transporting no more than 6 marijuana plants, with 3 or fewer being mature, flowering plants, and possession of the marijuana produced by the plants on the premises where the plants were grown.
III. Transferring one ounce or less of marijuana and up to 6 immature marijuana plants to a person who is 21 years of age or older without remuneration.
IV. Transferring or selling marijuana seeds or up to 6 marijuana seedlings to marijuana cultivation facilities.
V. Assisting another person who is 21 years of age or older in any of the acts described in this section.