NH Senate Panel Votes Down Recreational and Medical Marijuana Expansion

1 April 2025

In a major blow to cannabis reform efforts, a New Hampshire Senate committee has voted to recommend killing three key marijuana-related bills—despite their earlier approval by the House of Representatives and strong public support across the state.

The Senate Judiciary Committee issued "inexpedient to legislate" (ITL) recommendations for HB 75, which would have legalized adult-use cannabis; HB 53, which would have allowed medical marijuana patients to grow their own plants; and HB 51, which sought to expand dispensary access to nonintoxicating hemp cannabinoids like CBD and CBG.

Although these bills will still proceed to the full Senate floor for a vote, the committee’s rejection signals a steep uphill battle for passage. Advocates see this as a major setback, as New Hampshire remains the only state in New England without legalized adult-use cannabis.

Who Is Affected — and How:

• Medical Marijuana Patients: Patients who rely on medical cannabis stand to lose the most. HB 53 would have allowed them to grow up to three mature plants at home, offering a lower-cost alternative to purchasing from dispensaries. Its defeat means many patients will continue facing high retail prices and limited supply options.

• Licensed Dispensaries and the CBD Market: HB 51 aimed to make affordable, nonintoxicating cannabinoid products more widely available by allowing dispensaries to purchase CBD and CBG from commercial hemp producers instead of manufacturing them in-house. The rejection of this bill limits dispensary options, potentially keeping prices high and reducing the variety of products available for patients.

• Adult-Use Consumers and the Broader Public: The failure of HB 75 continues to block adult-use legalization, forcing many New Hampshire residents either to travel to neighboring legal states or to turn to the illicit market. This situation also delays potential new tax revenue streams and economic investment opportunities that a regulated market could bring.

• The Cannabis Industry and Local Economy: By maintaining outdated cannabis laws, New Hampshire risks losing out on industry growth, business investment, and jobs that are rapidly developing across the region. Dispensaries and potential entrepreneurs are left without clear opportunities for expansion.

• Public Opinion and Trust: Advocates highlight that repeated polling shows strong majority support among New Hampshire residents for both medical marijuana reforms and adult-use legalization. By ignoring these shifts in public sentiment, lawmakers risk widening the disconnect between the state government and the voters they represent.

Political Context:

The Senate committee’s decision reflects broader political opposition led by Governor Kelly Ayotte, who has consistently opposed legalization efforts, even for modest reforms aimed at helping patients. Advocates argue that this resistance is increasingly out of step not only with regional trends but with New Hampshire’s own voters.

Without legislative progress, advocates warn that New Hampshire patients and adult consumers will continue to depend on out-of-state purchases or underground markets for cannabis access. Meanwhile, the state's economic opportunities tied to cannabis innovation, healthcare, and taxation continue to be left on the table.