A bill has been pre-filed in New Hampshire for the 2016 legislative session that would legalize the possession of marijuana for adults 21 years and older, according to a recent report by The Daily Chronic.
Reps. Michael Sylvia (R-Belknap) and Robert Hull (R-Grafton) are the sponsors of House Bill 1610. The bill would allow adults to have up to two ounces of cannabis, to grow no more than six plants, and to gift up to an ounce of marijuana to someone else.
Like a bill passed in Washington D.C., HB 1610 would not legalize retail sales of cannabis.
New Hampshire’s motto is “Live Free Or Die,” yet remains the sole New England state where cannabis possession is a criminal offense. According to NORML, marijuana possession arrests in New Hampshire come in at around 2,900 a year.
Possession of marijuana is a misdemeanor in New Hampshire, and can get you put behind bars for a year and fined up to $2,000. Previous attempts to decriminalize cannabis have been defeated in the Senate, although recent polls indicate strong voter support for legalization.
Granite State citizens in favor of the bill should by all means get in touch with their representatives. Residents can contact their legislators via NORML’s site.
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