Three different New Hampshire lawmakers have filed requests with the Office of Legislative Services to put cannabis legalization on the 2022 general ballot. Representatives Joshua Adjutant, D, Renny Cushing, D, and Andrew Prout, R, are pushing for New Hampshire citizens to vote on their right to recreational cannabis. 

Recreational cannabis legalization bills have passed the state’s House of Representatives a few times now, but have continuously died in the Senate. Furthermore, the state’s governor, Chris Sununu, R, has predominantly been against cannabis legalization. By proposing a question on the 2022 ballot, New Hampshire citizens will have a direct say in the legalization of recreational cannabis. Additionally, the proposal would circumvent a likely veto from Governor Sununu. 

​​“Granite Staters are tired of watching cannabis bills pass the House and then die in the Senate,” said Matt Simon. He’s the director of public and government relations at Prime Alternative Treatment Centers of New Hampshire. “Public opinion is overwhelmingly favorable on the issue, so it’s no surprise that legislators have finally decided to try this approach.”

Ballot Question

The New Hampshire House and Senate will each receive the three questions submitted. Each must pass both chambers with a supermajority vote, 60 percent. If the question receives approval, then it will move to the 2022 ballot. There, for the question to become legal and a law, a ⅔ majority from voters is required. Should the questions make it to the ballot, they will most likely be verified by voters. In a recent poll, ¾ of New Hampshire voters approve of recreational cannabis legalization. 

The three representatives who submitted questions are approaching recreational cannabis differently. Representative Adjutant’s question is, “Providing that the state shall make no law prohibiting the use, sale, or cultivation of cannabis for persons over 18 years of age.” This would lower the age of cannabis consumption from 21 to 18, which would be the youngest in the country. 

Representative Cushing asks, “Providing that adults shall have the right to possess cannabis for personal consumption.” 

And Representative Prout’s question is a sort of combination of the other two. “Providing that all adults have the right to possess, use, and cultivate cannabis, subject to regulation by the legislature.”

Next Steps

Each question will now go to both the Senate and the House. Should they receive 60 percent of the vote, then the question will move to voters on the 2022 ballot. Therefore, as more information becomes available, we will update you with the latest. 

Make sure to check back for more cannabis and hemp related news.