NH Legalization Bill Advances While Governor Signals Likely Veto

11 September 2025

New Hampshire lawmakers are preparing for another vote on adult-use cannabis. On September 11, 2025, the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee indicated it will send a legalization bill to the full House, continuing a pattern of House approval in recent years. Sponsor Rep. Jared Sullivan urged colleagues to keep the measure intact, saying prior House votes reflected broad public support.

Committee Chair Rep. John Hunt proposed an alternative path focused on low-dose THC beverages. Under his concept, products with up to 5 milligrams of THC per serving would be sold exclusively in the state’s government-run liquor stores, aligning oversight with alcohol and potentially addressing concerns about smoking and odor. Hunt acknowledged that any legalization measure faces a likely veto.

Sullivan said the beverage-only approach could be examined through a separate vehicle, but argued the House should not dilute the main bill. He said the earlier House rejection of a state-run retail model was driven by objections to the structure rather than by fears about smoke. The discussion underscored the divide between supporters of broad legalization and proponents of incremental changes.

Governor Kelly Ayotte has consistently opposed legalization. She recently said her position would not change even if federal policy shifts on scheduling. Given the governor’s stance and past Senate resistance, House members recognized that the bill’s path remains narrow.

Cannabis policy has drawn sustained attention in New Hampshire. A House-added provision to allow medical marijuana patients to grow at home was stripped during conference negotiations earlier this year. With neighboring states operating adult-use markets, the debate continues to highlight questions about regulation, retail models, and potential economic effects.

The committee is expected to vote to advance the bill to the House floor in the coming weeks. If the House again approves legalization, the Senate and governor will decide whether to alter, block, or accept the policy direction set by the lower chamber.