Medical Cannabis Legalized in New Hampshire

With just one day left to pass it this session, the New Hampshire Legislature has given final approval to a measure aimed at legalizing medical marijuana – including state licensed dispensaries.

After much back and forth between the House and Senate, HB 573 has finally made it through – Governor Maggie Hassan will sign the legislation at any time, stating prior to its passage that: “I encourage the full legislature to pass this compromise so I can sign this legislation into law”.

“This legislation has been a long time coming and is a much-needed victory for those with serious illnesses who find significant relief in medical marijuana,” said Matt Simon, a legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project.

Once signed, the law will go into effect immediately, and a commission will begin the process of establishing a dispensary system. Patients will be allowed to possess up to 2 ounces, and dispensaries will be allowed up to 80 ounces and 80 plants (with 160 seedlings), plus an additional three plants, 12 seedlings and 6 ounces for every patient who designates the dispensary as their primary access point.

The measure mandates that at least two licenses must be issued for dispensaries within the first 18 months of the law’s passage.

- TheJointBlog

http://thejointblog.com/medical-cannabis-legalized-in-new-hampshire/

The ball is rolling pretty fast in usa, now how long until the UK gets it?

Cannabis should be legalized for recreational purposes too, and to only have it allowed for medical reasons opens up for some corruption and cheating, but I guess smalls steps towards sanity is the best strategy.

It'll be interesting to see when the momentum passes to the point where state laws on the matter outweigh the Controlled Substances Act by virtue of the sheer number of states participating.

Yes, but it is a step.

Currently Colorado and Washington State are the only states working towards full legalzation.  Which I belive goes into effect early next year.

I think we have already passed that point! At least with 'medicinal use.'  I think it is like 19 states - more states than have Same Sex Marriage.

Every year people, usually Barry Sanders is one, submit a federal bill to legalize it. 

I got our new Major of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti to say he would support legalization.  That is a big deal for a major politician, and the second larges city in the USA.

To me it is about what is going to make society better.  I think having fewer people in jail, not working, away from their families, because of personal recreational uses isn’t a good thing.  People should still be held accountable if the do something bad - like hitting a person, stealing or being irresponsible with a vehicle. 

Sadly that's not true at all, a great number of medical marijuana growers have been "arrested" by the feds, despite promises by the Obama camp to not do so.

He'll they've gone so far as to arrest and charge a bunch of people who aren't even growing the stuff anymore!

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2013/06/reports_has_obama_outspent_and.php

The scariest part is that enforcement of the law is ridiculiously racist.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/04/us/marijuana-arrests-four-times-as-likely-for-blacks.html

True, the original laws against Marijuana were used by racist themselves too.

And I do not disagree that things are bad.  They usually get bad before they get worse.  Look at how much people attacks gay people, for just being gay, when Same Sex Marriage gets popular.  Anti-gay violence has skyrocketed since New York State approved Same Sex Marriage.

It's like that quote: "Mahatma Gandhi First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."

It's precisely that more, and more state have a form of legalized Marijuana, that the Federal Government is cracking down harder.  What if studies can show that legalization is good for the community?  It will mean so much of what they have been saying is documented falsehoods.

Studies have shown that... for like, deades now.  It's just ignored.

Didn't know that about anti-gay violence in NY.  Interesting.

Yea, it's up, I forget the numbers, but something like 600% over the last couple of years.

In New York City alone, there have been several murders.  Two men were walking down the street recently, a group of guys asked one something about being gay, and like "Do you like your friend?"  And shot him dead in the head.

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Fatal-Shooting-Greenwich-Village-Possible-Hate-Crime-Police-207995831.html

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Gay-Couple-Attacked-Hate-Crime-Bias-MSG-PATH-Station-33rd-Street-206950961.html

For a while in May it was close to someone was being murdered once a week for being gay.  Makes you wonder where it's coming from.