The New Hampshire Senate has rejected a House-passed bill to legalize marijuana.
Just two days after receiving an unfavorable recommendation from the Senate Judiciary Committee, the full chamber defeated the measure in a 14-10 vote on Thursday.
Following the committee vote on Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Sharon Carson (R) predicted that the legislation from bipartisan House leaders would fail on the floor. The governor also recently expressed opposition to the reform.
HB 639 is one of several cannabis bills that have advanced through the House this session. The Senate Judiciary Committee also voted this week to designate a home grow measure for medical cannabis patients and a non-commercial legalization bill “inexpedient to legislate.”
But advocates were particularly focused on HB 639, sponsored by House Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R) and Minority Leader Matthew Wilhelm (D). There were early hopes that the increased pressure to enact reform, as well as certain changes to Senate membership following the last election, would clear a path to passage. But that path was blocked once again.
There was extensive floor debate on Thursday about the impacts of legalization in other states, with members sharing mixed evidence on how the reform affects traffic
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