The NH House of Representatives will vote Wednesday, Feb. 10 on HB 1373, a bill which seeks to create a study committee that would look more closely at the effects of state and federal drug laws on NH.  Here are the details:

Detailed coverage from Sunday's Eagle Tribune.

Another video from the Jan. 20 hearings:

Did you know that marijuana is the #2 cash crop in New Hampshire, behind only hay?  Here are the average values per annum in 2003-2005, from this 2006 study by Jon Gettman:

Hay: $16,163,000

Marijuana: $10,349,000

Apples: $6,637,000

And let's not forget that only a small percentage of the marijuana consumed in New Hampshire is produced here in the state!

Although we chose to focus exclusively on the medical marijuana issue in 2009, we have always believed that the prohibition of marijuana causes far more problems for society than marijuana itself could ever cause.  If you also believe that marijuana should be decriminalized or perhaps taxed and regulated, or if you are just curious and want to hear more about these issues, there will be hearings on two such bills next Wednesday, Jan. 20:

You might remember that last January we opposed two bills that offered to expand DUI laws.  The more nefarious of those two bills was unanimously killed, but the second, HB 665, was retained by the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee for further study.  To our surprise, the committee voted this fall to recommend HB 665 “ought to pass” in a 9-7 vote.  This bill will be voted on by the full House of Representatives Wednesday, Jan. 13 (the Jan. 7 vote was postponed), and we need to send a clear message to legislators that this bill should NOT be passed.