Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Make a sustaining gift today to support local journalism!

N.H. House Votes To Decriminalize Marijuana

NHPR

For the sixth time the New Hampshire House has OK’d a bill that would decriminalize marijuana.

The bill, which cleared the House by 297 to 67 yesterday, would make the possession of half an ounce of marijuana subject to a violation rather than jail time.

Republican Adam Schroadter of Newmarket told colleagues the harm associated with this plant is not enough to justify a criminal penalty.

“If we are truly concerned about abuse of dangerous drugs like heroin, cocaine, OxyContin and meth, why would we want to continue squandering limited law enforcement and criminal justice resources on cases involving simple possessions of marijuana,” Schroadter said.   

But Republican Will Gannon of Sandown, a father of four, disagreed.

“Reducing pot to a violation sends a message to the children of New Hampshire that it isn’t a big deal to smoke pot. I don’t want to send that message to the children of New Hampshire,” Gannon said.

So far nineteen other states have decriminalized marijuana.

Related Content

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.