HB 1623, R.I.P.
First, common sense prevailed in the NH House March 18 as HB 1623 passed by a 193-141 margin. Then Gov. Lynch immediately threatened a veto, and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Foster (D-Nashua) called the bill "dead on arrival" in the Senate. Under those circumstances, it came as no surprise when the bill was defeated May 1 by the full Senate.
But did we make our point? And more importantly, will our state's archaic and draconian laws ever change? Stay tuned, NH Common Sense will be back after a short hiatus!
Telegraph: Senate just says no to marijuana bill
Reformers Concede HB 1623 Battle, Celebrate Progress
Concord, NH -- After being rejected by the Senate Judiciary Committee in a 4-0 vote last Thursday, HB 1623 was defeated this afternoon in a voice vote by the full Senate. The bill, which would have reduced the penalty for possessing less than a quarter ounce of marijuana, had been marked for death since it received a rare veto threat from Governor Lynch following passage by the House.
NHPR: The Mellowing of Marijuana Laws
"The Exchange" is a very influential hour-long program on New Hampshire Public Radio, and the effort to reduce marijuana penalties was featured Friday, April 25 in a show called "The Mellowing of Marijuana Laws," guest-hosted by Richard Ager. Matt Simon of NH Common Sense and Chief Richard Crate of the Enfield Police Department were in studio for the show, joined by call-in guests Rep. Jeff Fontas, Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, and LEAP's Richard Van Wickler. Enjoy!
Great Hearing Coverage on Free Minds TV
Toby and Nick did a super job covering the April 22 hearing, lots of good video and analysis!
4/23 Coverage of Senate Hearing
Nashua Telegraph: "Pot Bill Authors Look to Appease Critics"
Concord Monitor: "Senate May Snuff Marijuana Bill"
4/20 -- Sunday Poll Coverage!
Top statehouse reporters Tom Fahey and Kevin Landrigan covered HB 1623 in their Sunday columns and mentioned our favorable poll results. Here's Fahey's mention in the Union-Leader:
Edwards told us "the hardest thing for us has been the fact that the governor and majority leader wanted to end the conversation before it even started."
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