New Hampshire House Lets Marijuana Legalization And Psilocybin Therapy Bills Die Without A Vote

The New Hampshire House of Representatives has effectively killed bills to legalize marijuana and allow the therapeutic use of psilocybin by not bringing them up for floor votes ahead of a key deadline. Meanwhile, separate legislation on those topics has already advanced.

As legislators continue to push for a variety of drug policy reform proposals, with mixed results so far this session, the House on Thursday adjourned without bringing up scheduled measures to let voters decide on adult-use marijuana legalization as well as separate bills to end prohibition of low-level cannabis possession and give adults access to psilocybin as a novel treatment alternative.

Here’s an overview of the cannabis and psychedelics bills that were not considered by the House:

CACR 19

The House failed to consider a bill from Rep. Jonah Wheeler (D) that would have put a constitutional amendment on the state ballot to let voters decide if they want to legalize marijuana for adults 21 and older, allowing them to “possess a modest amount of cannabis for their personal use.”

If enacted, the constitutional amendment would have appeared on the November state ballot.

The the text of what would have gone before voters on the November ballot under CACR 19 reads:

“Are you in favor of amending the first part of the constitution by inserting after article 2-b a new article to read as follows:

[Art.] 2-c. [Adult possession of cannabis.] All adults who are 21 years of age or older shall have the right to possess a modest amount of cannabis intended for their personal consumption.”

Members of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee took up that legislation in January. It was ultimately deemed inexpedient to legislate by a majority of the panel, but in New Hampshire all bills still have the opportunity to advance to the floor even with negative committee recommendations.

A motion from Rep. Alissandra Murray (D) to special order the legislation for consideration by the body before its adjournment on Thursday failed by a vote of 115-220.

In a minority report, Murray, clerk of the committee, wrote that the legislation “returns the question of cannabis legalization to the people of New Hampshire, where it belongs. It does not itself legalize cannabis; rather, it allows voters to decide whether adults age 21 and over may legally possess a modest amount.”

“The amendment intentionally avoids specifying possession limits, recognizing that such details are better addressed in statute than embedded in the constitution, where they are more difficult to amend,” she said, adding that polling shows overwhelming public support for legalization in New Hampshire. “It is high time we respect the will of the people and end the continued criminalization of adults for conduct that a strong majority no longer believes should be a crime.”

Rep. Terry Roy (R), chair of the panel, wrote in the majority report that the panel “recommends CACR 19 as inexpedient to legislate because embedding a federal crime into the New Hampshire Constitution is a reckless act of legal entrapment that endangers the very liberties we are sworn to protect. While some frame this as ‘respecting the will of the people,’ they are actually inviting Granite Staters into a ‘federal trap’ where exercising a state-granted ‘right’ results in the automatic and permanent forfeiture of their Second Amendment rights.”

“Beyond the constitutional risk, we must consider the professional doors this closes: any use authorized by this amendment remains an automatic disqualifier for federal security clearances in New Hampshire’s high-paying defense sector, as well as for military service and law enforcement,” he said. “A truly pro-liberty stance requires protecting our citizens from federal overreach, not baiting them into a conflict that strips them of their right to bear arms and their economic future.”

HB 1235-FN

Another cannabis legalization bill that didn’t get a floor vote in the House on Thursday is HB 1235-FN from Rep. Jared Sullivan (D) and five bipartisan cosponsors. The measure was also designated as inexpedient to legislate by the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.

Under the legislation, HB 1235, adults 21 and older would have been allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis flower and up to 10 grams of marijuana concentrates. The proposal would not have created a system of regulated commercial sales, however.

In the majority report from the committee, the chairman reiterated his belief that legalization supporters are mischaracterizing the reform as a personal liberties issue.

“The promise of ‘personal freedom’ is a hollow one when it results in the systematic closing of doors for New Hampshire’s young people and the erosion of our fundamental constitutional rights,” Roy said. “We must look at actual outcomes: since legalization, neighboring states have seen a 15 percent increase in workers’ compensation claims and a 55 percent higher rate of industrial accidents among users, a trend that would cripple New Hampshire’s productivity and drive up insurance costs for small businesses.”

“Most critically, this bill creates a devastating ‘federal trap’ for the thousands of Granite Staters employed by our state’s thriving defense sector, which remains a primary economic driver with average annual wages exceeding $111,000,” he said. “We refuse to trade New Hampshire’s safety, economic future, and the Second Amendment rights of our citizens for a policy that offers only the illusion of liberty while stripping away the keys to a successful future and increasing road fatalities by 17.3 percent as seen in our neighboring states.”

Rep. Buzz Scherr (D) said in the committee’s minority report that the proposed legislation “recognizes that New Hampshire residents are notably in favor of such an approach and that all of New Hampshire’s surrounding states have taken some version of this approach.”

Sullivan, the bill sponsor, also filed separate legislation this session that would have legalized adult-use cannabis through a regulated sales model, with additional provisions to provide relief for those who’ve previously been criminalized over marijuana. That bill already passed the House this year, but it was then promptly killed in the Senate.

HB 1796-FN

The House on Thursday also did not take up a Republican-led bill from Rep. Michael Moffett (R) that would have permitted the regulated use of psilocybin in a medically supervised setting.

To qualify for psilocybin treatment, a patient 21 or older would have needed to be diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, substance misuse disorder, a terminal illness requiring end-of-life care or any other condition authorized by the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

There would have been specific guidelines for facilities where the psychedelic could be administered, including security requirements and other safety protocols such as ensuring there are rescue medications on site if a patient experiences an adverse event.

The legislation, HB 1796, would have also established a Therapeutic Psilocybin Treatment Fund, which would have been funded by revenue from licensing taxes and fees. The fund would have gone toward studies into the possibility of expanding the program to include additional psychedelics in the program.

Rep. Tim Hartnett (D)—on behalf of the majority of the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee that deemed the psilocybin bill inexpedient to legislate—said in a report that the measure contains “several insurmountable challenges,” including “significant financial challenges in staffing and related costs” for DHHS.

“Second, the bill presupposes existing expertise and related capacities already exist within the NH government,” the report says. “Third, psilocybin has great promise and even though significant anecdotal evidence exists on its therapeutic benefit, compelling confirmatory scientific evidence remains early in its development.”

“Further, beyond scientific studies, the experience of actual day-to-day-mainstream clinic operations are even less well understood—the ‘how do we run a clinic’ questions of staff recruitment and training, program admissions, management of patient emergencies etc.—are in their infancy. News reports from other jurisdictions suggest there is much to be learned about running and regulating clinics providing treatments using this medication.”

A minority report from Rep. Yury Polozov (R) says the legislation “provides an evidence-based treatment option for patients who have not responded to conventional therapies.”

“Emerging research supports psilocybin’s potential benefits for mental health conditions when used in controlled therapeutic settings. The bill promotes public health and harm reduction,” the said. “It offers renewed hope for life to those in crisis, as suicide remains a major cause of death, particularly among veterans who often suffer from treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.”

Last month, the House approved a separate bipartisan bill to legalize the regulated use of psilocybin for medical purposes. It is now scheduled to be considered by the House Finance Committee on Tuesday before a final floor vote later this month that could move it to the Senate.

The legislation from Scherr would create a regulatory pathway for patients with certain conditions to access the psychedelic for therapeutic use through a program overseen by DHHS.

—Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.—

Meanwhile, Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R) has already threatened to veto any marijuana legalization bill that reaches her desk, though the constitutional amendment proposal would not require gubernatorial action.

The governor said in August that her position on the reform would not change even if the federal government moved forward with rescheduling the plant. Since then, President Donald Trump has directed the attorney general to finalize the process of moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

At a committee meeting last year, Sullivan ultimately made a persuasive argument for advancing his legalization bill, pointing out that the House has repeatedly passed similar legislation and that the chamber should stand its ground, forcing the Senate and governor to again go on record with their opposition to a policy popular among voters.

“We know where it’s going to go. Let’s send a virtue signal,” Sullivan said. “Let them be the ones that are pissing off voters who care about this.”

In the Senate, the Judiciary Committee in January also took up a bill from Sen. Donovan Fenton (D) that would allow adults over the age of 21 to legally possess up to four ounces of cannabis in plant form and 20 grams of concentrated cannabis products, as well as other products containing no more than 2,000 milligrams of THC.

Last June, the New Hampshire Senate voted to scrap compromise legislation that would have lowered the state’s criminal penalty for first-time psilocybin possession while also creating mandatory minimum sentences around fentanyl.

As originally introduced, the legislation would have completely removed penalties around obtaining, purchasing, transporting, possessing or using psilocybin, effectively legalizing it on a noncommercial basis. However a House committee amended the bill before unanimously advancing it last March.

Image element courtesy of Kristie Gianopulos.

Maryland Lawmakers Take Up Bill To Protect Firefighters And Rescue Workers Who Use Medical Marijuana Off Duty

Maryland lawmakers on Wednesday took up a bill to protect firefighters and rescue workers from being penalized over their lawful use of medical marijuana off the job—taking testimony on the unique need to give emergency service professionals the option to use cannabis as an alternative treatment for health conditions that commonly afflict the first responder community.

Members of the House Economic Matters Committee met to discuss the legislation, HB 797 from Del. Adrian Boafo (D), about a week after a Senate companion version of the cannabis measure sponsored by Sen. Carl Jackson (D) advanced through that chamber.

This marks the latest in a series of attempts to enact the reform over recent sessions, Boafo said at the committee hearing on Wednesday, and lawmakers are “bringing it back because it’s so critically important to our firefighters” and other rescue professionals who “work long shifts in tense emergencies and high-stress situations every day.”

“Many experience chronic pain, injuries and anxiety as a direct result of serving our communities,” he said. “Medical cannabis, when prescribed and used off duty, can help manage those conditions. But under current policies, firefighters who use medically prescribed cannabis can face retaliation or discipline from their employers, even when they’re following the law.”

“That leaves many of these public servants with a difficult choice: Either continue doing their jobs in pain, or turn to stronger prescription drug drugs, often opiates, just to get through the day,” Boafo said, while emphasizing that “nothing in this bill allows for impairment on the job” and that those who come to work impaired “will still face serious consequences and will be reported” to state emergency medical services regulators.

“Public safety remains a top priority here in Maryland, but our state must modernize its laws to protect employees who use medically certified cannabis responsibly and outside of the workplace,” he said. “Our firefighters and rescue professionals dedicate their lives to protecting us. They should not be punished for seeking legal, medically prescribed relief for the physical toll of that work.”

HB 797 would amend the state’s medical marijuana law by stipulating that firefighters, emergency medical technicians, cardiac rescue technicians and paramedics employed by the state or local governments could not face employment discrimination or retaliation for testing positive for cannabis metabolites if they’re a registered medical marijuana patient.

Specifically, employers could not “discipline, discharge, or otherwise discriminate against the fire and rescue public safety employee with respect to the employee’s compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment” if they test positive while holding a medical cannabis registration.

Further, employers could not “limit, segregate, or classify its employees in any way that would deprive or tend to deprive the fire and rescue public safety employee of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect the fire and rescue public safety employee’s status as an employee.”

Nothing in the legislation would prohibit employers from taking action against an employee for showing up to work while under the influence of cannabis, and any instances where a public safety worker is found to be impaired while on duty would be reported to the State Emergency Medical Services Board.

Jeff Buttle, president of the Professional Firefighters of Maryland, told the House committee that the bill “provides important employment protections,” noting that “many firefighters, EMTs and paramedics experience job-related injuries, chronic pain and stress as a result of critical work—work they perform to protect our communities.”

“For some of these professionals, medical cannabis—prescribed and used legally under Maryland law—may be part of their preferred treatment program,” he said. “However, under current policies, these employees may still face discipline or termination simply for using medical cannabis and then testing positive, even if their use occurs legally and off duty.”

“House Bill 797 addresses this gap by ensuring that fire and rescue public safety employees are not discriminated against solely because they are medical cannabis patients,” he said. “Maryland’s firefighters and EMS professionals dedicate their lives to protecting others. This bill helps ensure they are treated fairly under the law, while continuing to uphold the highest [level] of safety and professionalism.”

Grant Walker, president of the Prince George’s County Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics Association, said that while most Maryland residents have been able to access medical cannabis for over a decade, “firefighters—the men and women who run into burning buildings and respond to medical emergencies—are still forced to choose between their careers and physician-recommended treatments.”

“The human cost of this policy is real,” he said. “Firefighting is a profession marked by occupational cancer, chronic injuries, PTSD and severe sleep deprivation. Many firefighters are also veterans, already navigating complex treatment plans. They deserve access to appropriate medical care.”

John Gardell, battalion chief with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire, also spoke in favor of the legislation, while stressing that “the ability to use medical cannabis does not allow someone to be impaired on duty.”

“As a fire service professional for over 30 years, the men and women working around such an individual would not stand for it,” he said. “They know that their lives depend on that person. In the eight years the city of Pittsburgh has allowed the use of medical cannabis, we have had zero incidents of on-duty impairment. These men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting their communities deserve access to treatments and improve their health and wellbeing.”

NORML’s Paul Armentano shared a scientific perspective on the issue in his testimony, explaining how “patients who consume medical cannabis during their off hours should be treated equally because THC primary metabolite is fat soluble,” meaning that it’s “detectable for weeks, even months, post-abstinence, long after any psychoactive effects have worn off.”

“For this reason, many jurisdictions have abolished the use of these discriminatory urine tests in the workplace,” he said, listing numerous states and cities that have enacted such reform. “Following the abolishment of these cannabis-related urine testing policies, none of these jurisdictions have seen any decline in workplace safety or performance.”

The advancement of the House and Senate cannabis bills comes a year after officials in Maryland’s most populous county said they were moving to loosen marijuana policies for would-be police officers in an effort to boost recruitment amid a staffing shortage.

—Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.—

Meanwhile in Maryland, lawmakers are also advancing legislation to extend a psychedelics task force through the end of 2027 to develop updated recommendations on expanding therapeutic access to the novel drugs and potentially creating a regulatory framework for broader legalization.

Legislators also took up a bill last month to protect the gun rights of medical marijuana patients in the state.

Members of the House Judiciary Committee discussed the legislation from Del. Robin Grammer (R), who has sponsored multiple versions of the cannabis and gun rights measure over recent sessions, but they have not yet advanced to enactment.

Separately, a Republican congressional lawmaker representing Maryland who has built a reputation as one of the staunchest opponents of marijuana reform on Capitol Hill—and whose record includes ensuring that Washington, D.C. officials are blocked from legalizing recreational cannabis sales—may be at risk of being unseated in November due to redistricting in his state.

Minnesota Lawmakers Approve Bill To Legalize Psilocybin Therapy And Reschedule The Psychedelic Under State Law

Minnesota lawmakers have approved a bill that would legalize the regulated therapeutic use of psilocybin for adults 21 and older, while rescheduling the psychedelic under state statute.

Members of the House Health Finance and Policy Committee on Monday passed the legislation from Rep. Andy Smith (DFL) in a voice vote. The proposal next heads to the Commerce Finance and Policy Committee.

Smith also sponsored a similar measure last year that did not ultimately advance to enactment.

Under the current bill, which was revised with a substitute amendment at the committee hearing, qualified patients 21 and older could receive psilocybin-assisted therapy in an “approved private residence or at a licensed treatment facility,” according to a summary from the Minnesota House Research Department.

“No one in this committee, I know, questions the fact that mental illness is one of the defining issues in our society today,” Smith, who described the legislation as responsive to recommendations from a state psychedelics task force that was formed under a separate law, said. “Today in this committee, we are talking about a new tool: A therapeutic psilocybin program here in Minnesota that has great potential.”

“It will help Minnesotans who are struggling with a wide variety of mental illnesses from substance use disorder, depression, PTSD, anxiety, chronic pain and more,” he said, before describing the key provisions of the proposed legislation.

A registered facilitator would need to administer the psychedelic. To start, the program would need to involve licensing 20 to 50 facilitators, with at least three approved testing facilities for psilocybin. No more than 1,000 patients could participate in the psychedelic therapy for the first three years of the law’s implementation.

The Department of Health (DOH) and Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) would be responsible for overseeing the program and establishing rules, with the heath commissioner also tasked with collaborating with a newly established Psychedelic Medicine Advisory Committee on the initiative.

Psilocybin sessions would involve “preparation” with a patient-facilitator consultation, “administration” where patients would receive the psychedelic and “integration” where patients would work with professionals to process the therapeutic experience.

Further, HF 2906 as amended incorporates protections for health professionals that help facilitate the program. And it would impose penalties for violations of the law such as the unsanctioned administration or cultivation of psilocybin outside of the parameters of the program.

“I think a lot of the when somebody hears about this initially and thinks, ‘Hey, medicinal cannabis program’—a lot of criticism that is ‘Oh, it’s the nose under the camel’s tent for legalization’ or whatnot,” Rep. Nolan West (R), who is cosponsoring the legislation, said. “This is a pilot program.”

The lawmaker also pointed out that interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics extends not just across party lines but all the way up to the White House, where U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and other administration officials have discussed expanding access to the novel therapies.

In addition to creating the psilocybin therapy program, the Minnesota bill calls for the psychedelic to be moved from Schedule I to Schedule IV of the state’s controlled substances list, reflecting a low abuse potential and low risk of dependency.

One of the open questions for the reform is how to ensure it will receive adequate funding, and so while the sponsor said he isn’t expecting significant political resistance to the underlying purpose of the legislation, it’s possible spending concerns could prove problematic.

“If it doesn’t happen this year, I feel very confident in the next budget year that we’ll be able to get this done,” Smith told The Minnesota Star Tribune.

Kurtis Hanna, board president for the Psychedelic Access Project, told Marijuana Moment that the advancement of the bill through committee with a bipartisan vote is “encouraging” when “the Minnesota legislature is as divided as ever.”

“Veterans, mental health practitioners, doctors and patients came out in full force today to support providing another tool in the toolbox to Minnesotans suffering from mental health issues,” he said. “I’m excited to see this issue gain more traction as it moves through the next few committee stops on its way to a full vote in the House and Senate.”

—Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.—

Meanwhile in Minnesota, the state’s first government-run marijuana retailer recently opened its doors, marking another milestone in the state’s adult-use cannabis program.

Last September, Minnesota officials granted the state’s first-ever marijuana event organizer license, allowing adults to buy and consume cannabis products on-site at a festival. The first non-tribal marijuana shops opened for sales to adults 21 and older earlier that month.

Also last year, the Minnesota city of Eden Prairie sought suggestions from residents on what to name a new, government-branded cannabis gummy product to be sold at municipal liquor stores.

Minnesota’s House of Representatives circulated a poll at last year’s State Fair that asked attendees about the idea of allowing localities to enact bans on marijuana businesses within their borders. Most respondents who have an opinion on the issue agree with the policy, despite it not currently being a part of the state’s cannabis laws.

Ahead of the enactment of legalization in Minnesota, lawmakers’ separate State Fair polls found majority support for the reform.

The governor has also selected a top cannabis regulator for the state who will oversee the adult-use market rollout. Last June, June, OCM issued the state’s first recreational marijuana license for a cultivation microbusiness.

OCM said at the time that it’s taking further steps to build up in the industry and create opportunities to entrepreneurs, including opening a new licensing window for cannabis testing facilities, accepting the first applications for marijuana event licenses and verifying more social equity status requests.

Separately, after Minnesota lawmakers passed a bill to end the criminalization of bong water containing trace amount of drugs, the governor signed the measure into law last May.

The change addresses an existing policy that had allowed law enforcement to treat quantities of bong water greater than four ounces as equivalent to the pure, uncut version of whatever drug the device was used to consume.

Meanwhile, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) said in December that the state is “exploring” how to respond to an impending federal ban on hemp THC products, which would be “very disruptive” to a “thriving industry.”

Image courtesy of CostaPPR.