CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE — The New Hampshire House passed a bill today, 234-138, that would allow seriously ill patients to use medical marijuana if their doctor recommends it – a first for either chamber of the state’s legislature.
Now that the bill – HB 648, sponsored by Evalyn Merrick (D-Lancaster) – has cleared the House, patients and advocates are calling on the Senate to pass it and send it to Gov. John Lynch to make it law without delay.
“This vote proves that House members have taken this debate seriously, listened carefully to the testimony of patients who rely on medical marijuana for relief from terrible, debilitating conditions, and understand their duty as elected officials to provide for their needs with responsible, compassionate legislation,” said Sen. Martha Fuller Clark (D-Portsmouth), co-sponsor of the bill that the House passed today. “Now it’s up to my colleagues to do the same, and end the ongoing harassment of patients who have committed no crimes, and who only wish to be protected from arrest for using the proven, safe medicine their doctors recommend.”
In 2007, a bill similar to the one currently under consideration was defeated by only nine votes – an incredibly slim margin considering it had been negatively recommended by the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee that year. The same committee gave HB 648 an “ought to pass” recommendation March 18. Also, a 2008 Mason-Dixon poll showed that 71 percent of New Hampshire voters support such a law, and medical marijuana advocates say legislators have learned a lot in two years about both medical marijuana and medical marijuana policy.
“This vote shows New Hampshire is ready to protect patients by enacting a responsible medical marijuana law,” said Matt Simon, NH Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy executive director. “Public opinion may soon become public policy.”
Thirteen states already have medical marijuana laws which effectively protect qualifying patients from arrest and help them safely access marijuana. Michigan became the most recent last year when 63 percent of voters passed its medical marijuana law by ballot initiative. Of the 11 states that have collected such data, not one has seen youth marijuana use rates increase after establishing a medical marijuana law. In fact, each of those states, including California, has actually seen youth marijuana rates decline, in some cases dramatically.
It’s like New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Minnesota are all racing to see which will become the 14th medical marijuana state in America. Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut are following close behind. Wouldn’t it blow your mind to see six new medical marijuana states in one legislative cycle? Imagine 19 medical marijuana states covering 38% of the US population, including four of the top ten most populous states!
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Way to go NH. The ball is really rolling. I really thought NJ would be done with theirs by now. Lets get these 6 done and that will be 19. Only 31 to go. I can guarantee that Fla will be the last. What neanderthals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Huge kudos go out to Matt Simon and NHCompassion.org for swinging this vote from a narrow defeat two years ago to a huge victory!
Naturally, Gov. Lynch is “concerned.” Last year his ‘concerns’ regarding decrim torpedoed that proposal (after the House had approved it) DEAD in the Senate. Let’s hope for a better outcome this year!
Bill’s Prospects In Senate, With Governor Unclear
March 25, 2009
CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire residents with cancer and other painful ailments could grow and use a small amount of marijuana for medicinal purposes under legislation approved by the House.
The House voted 234-138 Wednesday to send the bill to the Senate.
Gov. John Lynch has said he has concerns about the bill.
The bill would allow severely ill patients or their caregivers to grow and possess six marijuana plants and 2 ounces of the drug. The bill requires doctors to certify a patient has a debilitating medical condition and would benefit from the therapeutic or palliative effect of marijuana.
The bill’s prospects in the Senate are uncertain.
Copyright: 2009 by The Associated Press
http://www.wmur.com/health/19012776/detail.html
awesome job
:2thumb: 
Granite Staters…..
Lets go Pennsylvania.
The state with “Live Free or Die” as its motto has been stunningly slow in getting a realistic, compassionate, pragmatic, and, yes, liberal marijuana policy. (I use “liberal” in the original sense of the word, as in “respecting liberty.”)
New Hampshire had been famous for allowing adults to choose whether or not to wear seatbelts in cars or helmets on motorcycles. In that spirit, New Hampshire should shift its marijuana law so that it’s in-line with a pro-freedom culture.
Marijuana is a plant that goes in the ground. Adults in a free state should be able to grow it, harvest it, and use it in a responsible way.
Maybe there is a counterargument about protecting people from themselves. So much for “live free or die.”
But, at the very least, marijuana must be legal for people who are suffering, sick, and dying.
What kind of law punishes people who are fighting severe pain?