New Hampshire House narrowly defeats medical marijuana bill

Sadly, New Hampshire representatives voted on March 28 to continue treating medical marijuana patients as criminals. HB 774, the medical marijuana bill, was defeated 186-177. Even though the bill was defeated, the support that it has garnered this year will help medical marijuana patients get the protection they deserve in the future.

Please click here for a list of how the representatives voted and their contact information. We separated the representatives by county and district to make it easier for you to find your representatives. Because the Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee did not recommend the legislation, a "nay" vote by the representative is actually a vote in favor of the medical marijuana bill. Please take a moment now to thank your representatives who supported this legislation. Then, contact your representatives who did not support the medical marijuana bill and tell them that on Election Day next year you will remember that they opposed this sensible and compassionate bill. If you don't know who your representatives are, you can click here to find out.

MPP would like to thank the New Hampshire representatives who sponsored HB 774 Tim Roberstson, Lee Hammond, Chuck Weed, Steve Vaillencourt, and Paul Ingbretson as well as all of the representatives who voted to protect the seriously ill. MPP would especially like to thank Stephanie Murphy, Barbara McElroy, Frank Payette, Darlene Wilson, and Rep. Evelyn Merrick for their powerful testimony in support of this legislation. Your courage is truly admirable and inspiring.

We would also like to thank Stuart Cooper of LIVEFREE, Matt Simon and everyone with NH Common Sense for Marijuana Policy, and the NH Liberty Alliance. Thank you for your tireless support over the last several weeks. And, of course, thank you to all of the activists who called, e-mailed, and visited their representatives. This personal contact convinced many representatives to support the bill.

Although we came up a few votes short this year, be assured that the momentum is on our side and your efforts made an important difference. We will continue to fight until seriously ill New Hampshire patients are protected from arrest and prison for using their doctor-recommended medicine.

Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project. Please pass this message along to friends, family, neighbors, and e-mail lists so that others can stand up for New Hampshire's most vulnerable residents as well.