MPP - Lawmakers Call on Gov. Hassan to Recognize Patient Needs

State Lawmakers Will Join Advocates to Call on Gov. Hassan and the Legislature to Recognize Patients' Immediate Need for Legal Access to Medical Marijuana

Gov. Hassan is insisting legislators remove a provision from HB 573 that would allow patients with serious illnesses to grow their own supply of medical marijuana, leaving patients with no legal source of marijuana for two or more years while alternative treatment centers are being developed

Group will discuss a potential compromise at a news conference Tuesday at 10 a.m. ET following a Senate Committee on Health, Education, and Human Services meeting regarding the bill

CONCORD – New Hampshire State Reps. Donna Schlachman (D-Exeter) and Donald "Ted" Wright (R-Tuftonboro) and other legislators will join medical marijuana advocates – including a retired police sergeant and drug task force member – at a news conference Tuesday at 10 a.m. ET in the lobby of the Legislative Office Building, where they will call on Gov. Maggie Hassan and members of the state legislature to recognize patients' immediate need for legal access to medical marijuana. Gov. Hassan is insisting legislators remove a provision from HB 573 that would allow patients with serious illnesses to grow their own supply of medical marijuana, which would leave patients with no legal source of marijuana for two or more years while alternative treatment centers are being developed.

The news conference is scheduled to follow a Senate Health and Human Services Committee meeting regarding the bill. The Senate meeting will begin at 9 a.m. ET in Room 103 of the Legislative Office Building.

HB 573, sponsored by Rep. Schlachman and co-sponsored by Rep. Wright, whose wife has battled breast cancer for 20 years, was approved in March by more than 80% of the House of Representatives. It would allow patients with certain debilitating medical conditions to grow up to three marijuana plants in their homes or obtain marijuana through one of five state-licensed alternative treatment centers.

"The bill has strong support among state legislators, and we are willing to make any reasonable compromise in order to meet the immediate needs of seriously ill New Hampshire citizens," said Matt Simon, a New Hampshire-based legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project. "We are confident that legislators can arrive at a solution that recognizes the immediate needs of patients and addresses the governor's concerns."

WHAT:  News conference to call on Gov. Maggie Hassan and members of the legislature to recognize patients' immediate need for legal access to medical marijuana

WHEN:  Tuesday, May 7, 10 a.m. ET (following 9 a.m. ET committee meeting)

WHERE:  Lobby of the Legislative Office Building, 33 N. State St., Concord

WHO: Rep. Donna Schlachman (D-Exeter), prime sponsor of HB 573

Rep. Donald “Ted” Wright (R-Tuftonboro), co-sponsor of HB 573 whose wife, Cindy, has been battling breast cancer for more than 20 years

John Tommasi, Salem police sergeant (Ret.), former member of the New Hampshire Drug Task Force

Matt Simon, legislative analyst, Marijuana Policy Project

Devon Chaffee, executive director, New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union

Richard Vincent, Loudon-based multiple sclerosis patient and leader of MS Support Group in Concord

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The Marijuana Policy Project, the nation’s largest marijuana-policy-reform organization, has been responsible for changing most state-level marijuana laws since 2000. For more information, visit http://www.marijuanapolicy.org.

MPP - NH: Medical Marijuana Bill Approved by 80% of House

House approves bill by record 286-64 margin

Statement below from the nation’s largest marijuana policy reform organization, the Marijuana Policy Project

CONCORD – A bill allowing seriously ill New Hampshire residents to use marijuana for medical purposes moved one step closer to becoming law Wednesday afternoon when the House voted in favor by a record 286-64 margin.

Similar bills passed the House with more than two-thirds support in 2009, 2011, and 2012, but this year’s total represents the strongest show of support yet by the House.

House Bill 573, sponsored by Rep. Donna Schlachman (D-Exeter), was previously approved 14-1 by the House Committee on Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs. The committee made a number of changes to the bill, including a language change — from “medical marijuana” to “therapeutic use of cannabis” — which was suggested by the New Hampshire Medical Society. As amended, the bill would allow qualifying patients to cultivate up to three mature plants or obtain cannabis from one of five non-profit, state-regulated alternative treatment centers.

The bill will next be considered by the Senate, which passed similar legislation in 2009 and 2012. Gov. Hassan previously expressed support for making medical marijuana legal in the Granite State.

Statement from Matt Simon, a New Hampshire-based legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project:

“This overwhelming vote comes as a great relief to patients who have been waiting years to legally follow their doctors’ advice. Patients should not have to live in fear of arrest in the ‘Live Free or Die’ state, and it’s a great relief for them to see such strong, bipartisan support from the House.”

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The Marijuana Policy Project, the nation’s largest marijuana-policy-reform organization, has been responsible for changing most state-level marijuana laws since 2000. For more information, visit http://www.marijuanapolicy.org.

MPP - NH Medical Marijuana Moves Forward

Key House committee approves bill that would allow people with debilitating medical conditions to use marijuana if their doctors recommend it

Statement below from New Hampshire-based legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project

CONCORD – A bill to allow New Hampshire residents to use medical marijuana in the treatment of their debilitating medical conditions moved one step closer to becoming law Thursday when it was approved 14-1 by the House Committee on Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs. It will now be considered by the full House of Representatives.

House Bill 573, sponsored by State Rep. Donna Schlachman (D-Exeter), would allow seriously ill patients to use medical marijuana if their doctors recommend it. Patients would be able to grow up to three mature marijuana plants in their homes or obtain marijuana through one of five non-profit, state-licensed alternative treatment centers. Gov. Maggie Hassan has expressed support for passing medical marijuana legislation. A similar medical marijuana bill that passed with bipartisan support last session was vetoed by then-governor John Lynch.

Prior to the vote, Rep. Patrick Culbert (R-Pelham) made an emotional plea to his colleagues, sharing his experience caring for his wife, Judy, as she slowly died of cancer. He recounted how she found relief from her “agonizing” symptoms the sole time she tried using medical marijuana, but did not use it again because she feared being arrested.

“People like Judy shouldn’t have to die like that,” Rep. Culbert said. “She should have died with dignity and she didn’t.”

Statement from Matt Simon, a New Hampshire-based legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project:

“This overwhelming showing of legislative support provides great relief to many seriously ill patients and their families, who have been waiting years for medical marijuana to become legal in New Hampshire. Patients whose doctors recommend they use marijuana to treat their conditions should not have to live in fear of arrest in the ‘Live Free or Die’ state. It is uplifting to see such a strong majority of legislators on this committee demonstrate their support for patients' rights.”

MPP - NH Lawmakers Discuss Medical Marijuana Bill

Patients and advocates offer testimony in support of bill that would allow patients with serious illnesses to obtain and use medical marijuana if their doctors recommend it

CONCORD – The House Committee on Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs held a hearing today on H.B. 573, which would allow patients with debilitating medical conditions to obtain and use medical marijuana if their doctors recommend it. The committee heard four hours of testimony from supporters of the proposal, including several patients with serious illnesses and disabilities who have been working for years to pass the bill.

 “I’ve been fighting for this bill since 2007, and this will probably be the last year I am physically strong enough to visit Concord,” said Clayton Holton, a 27-year-old Rochester resident suffering from muscular dystrophy. “I’m very hopeful this will be the year it finally passes.”

Holton told legislators his weight has fallen to just 66 pounds, alluding to marijuana’s abilityto stimulate appetite in malnourished patients suffering from conditions such as his. He also reported that he would be able to use fewer narcotic painkillers if marijuana became a legal alternative.

“There are many patients like Clayton who simply don’t have time to wait for this,” said Matt Simon, a Goffstown-based legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project. “No patient should ever be forced to move out of New Hampshire in order to follow a doctor’s advice, but that’s precisely the position in which some of these patients have been placed.”

H.B. 573 will now be examined by a subcommittee before receiving a vote in the House Committee on Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs on March 5. A similar bill passed with bipartisan support in both legislative bodies last year, but was vetoed by then-governor John Lynch. Gov. Maggie Hassan has expressed support for medical marijuana legislation.

A Granite State Poll conducted earlier in February found that 79% of New Hampshire adults support allowing doctors to recommend marijuana for patients suffering from serious illnesses.

Eighteen states and the District of Columbia allow patients with qualifying conditions to use medical marijuana with recommendations from their physicians. Lawmakers in 12 states have proposed similar legislation this year, and medical marijuana bills are expected to be brought forward in an additional six states.

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The Marijuana Policy Project, the nation’s largest marijuana-policy-reform organization, has been responsible for changing most state-level marijuana laws since 2000. For more information, visit http://www.marijuanapolicy.org.

NH: Medical Marijuana Hearing

House Committee on Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs will discuss proposal to allow patients with debilitating medical conditions to obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes

CONCORD – The House Committee on Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs is will hold a hearing Thursday on a bill that would allow patients with serious illnesses to obtain and use medical marijuana if their doctors recommend it. The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. EST in Rooms 205-207 of the Legislative Office Building (33 N. State St.).

Under H.B. 573, introduced by State Rep. Donna Schlachman (D-Exeter), patients with certain debilitating medical conditions would be able to grow up to four marijuana plants in their homes or obtain marijuana through one of five state-licensed alternative treatment centers. Gov. Maggie Hassan has expressed support for passing medical marijuana legislation. A similar medical marijuana bill that passed with bipartisan support last session was vetoed by then-governor John Lynch.

Matt Simon, a New Hampshire-based legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project, is available for comment at 603-391-7450. 

WHAT:  Hearing on H.B. 573, which would allow seriously ill patients to obtain and use medical marijuana if their doctors recommend it.

WHEN:  Thursday, February 21, 10 a.m. EST

WHERE: Legislative Office Building, Rooms 205-207, 33 N. State St., Concord

WHO:  House Committee on Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs

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The Marijuana Policy Project, the nation’s largest marijuana-policy-reform organization, has been responsible for changing most state-level marijuana laws since 2000. For more information, visit http://www.mpp.org.