N.H. medical marijuana bill heads to the full House -- act now!

Earlier today, the New Hampshire House health committee voted 13-7 in favor of HB 648, the medical marijuana bill. This vote came after a three-member subcommittee voted 2-1 to recommend that the bill ought to pass. The bill now heads to the House floor for debate and vote by the full chamber as early as next week. Please take a moment now to contact your legislators in support of HB 648.

A similar bill came nine votes shy of passing the House floor in 2007 in a chamber with 400 members. There are dozens of new members since 2007 and it's vital that all legislators hear from their constituents before they cast their votes.

HB 648, sponsored by Rep. Evalyn Merrick (D-Lancaster), would protect patients and their caregivers from being arrested, prosecuted, and convicted for possessing and growing limited amounts of medical marijuana. It also would protect doctors from arrest, prosecution, and conviction for recommending medical marijuana.

A 2008 Mason-Dixon poll showed that 71% of New Hampshire voters support allowing seriously and terminally ill patients to use and grow medical marijuana for personal use if their doctors recommend it. A majority of Democrats, Republicans, and independents support this policy as well. With overwhelming public support like this, you would think that New Hampshire legislators would easily pass this legislation. But legislators need to hear from you so they can see the support firsthand.

Please forward this message to your friends, family, neighbors, and e-mail lists in New Hampshire, so that they can speak out for reform as well. With your help we can make New Hampshire the 14th state to stop criminalizing patients for using medical marijuana.