New Bill Would Expand State’s Medical Marijuana Program

Six bills to expand the state’s medical marijuana program are awaiting discussion. Representative Eric Schleien is introducing four bills himself, and two others are introducing one each. Representatives Robert Renny Cushing and Brian Stone have both introduced House Bills regarding medical marijuana.

Each bill introduced is in an effort to relax the medical marijuana laws within New Hampshire, according to Tenth Amendment Center. The most comprehensive bill is House Bill 222 (HB222). This bill would include PTSD, chronic and intractable pain and weakness impairing strength. It would also allow opioid addicts the opportunity to treat their addiction with medical marijuana.

Each of the respective bills (HB157, HB158, HB159, HB160, HB197, and HB222) contain many of the same phrasings, but are broken up into smaller bills for easier understanding. One of the benefits of HB159 is that it would include fibromyalgia as a qualifying condition. HB197 aims to add myelitis disorder/disease as a qualifying condition.

Before these bills can move forward, all must receive a committee assignment. From there, it would be approved by the appropriate committee and be presented to the state House for a discussion and possible approval.