New Hampshire SB 651: relative to the legalization and regulation of cannabis and making appropriations therefor.

Bill Text

SB 651-FN-A - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2257

 09/08

SENATE BILL 651-FN-A

AN ACT relative to the legalization and regulation of cannabis and making appropriations therefor.

SPONSORS: Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Long, Dist 20; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Rep. Simpson, Rock. 33; Rep. Telerski, Hills. 11

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

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ANALYSIS

 This bill establishes procedures for the legalization, regulation, and taxation of cannabis; the

licensing and regulation of cannabis establishments; and makes appropriations therefor.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2257

 09/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to the legalization and regulation of cannabis and making appropriations therefor.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 Purpose and Findings. The general court hereby finds that: 

 I. In the interest of allowing law enforcement to focus on violent and property crimes, generating revenue for education, prevention, treatment, and recovery related to the use of both legal and illegal drugs and for other public purposes, and advancing individual freedom, the people of the state of New Hampshire find and declare that the use of cannabis by a person 21 years of age or older should be legal and subject to reasonable regulation and taxation. 

 II. In the interest of the health and public safety of our citizenry, the people of the state of New Hampshire further find and declare that cannabis should be regulated in a manner similar to alcohol so that: 

 (a) Individuals will have to show proof of age before purchasing cannabis.

 (b) Selling, distributing, or transferring cannabis to minors and other individuals under the age of 21 shall remain illegal.

 (c) Driving under the influence of cannabis shall remain illegal.

 (d) Moving cannabis production and sales from the underground, sometimes dangerous, illicit market to legal, taxpaying businesses allows for appropriate regulations and control. 

 (e) Cannabis sold in this state will be tested, labeled, and subject to additional regulations to ensure that consumers are informed and protected and to protect the environment.

 (f) Some of the tax revenue generated from legal cannabis sales will be used to support programs for education, prevention, treatment, and recovery related to the use of both legal and illegal drugs.

 2 New Subparagraph; Application of Receipts; Cannabis Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph 410 the following new subparagraph: 

 (411) Moneys deposited in the cannabis fund established in RSA 318-F:21.

 (412) Moneys in the substance abuse prevention and recovery fund established by RSA 318-F:22.

 3 New Subdivision; Substance Abuse Prevention and Recovery Funds. Amend RSA 126-A by inserting after section 106 the following new subdivision: 

Substance Abuse Prevention and Recovery Funds

 126-A:107 Substance Abuse Prevention and Recovery Funds; Management and Distribution of Funds. 

 I. The commissioner of the department of health and human services, in coordination with the governor's commission on alcohol and other drugs under RSA 12-J shall administer the substance abuse prevention and recovery fund established in RSA 318-F:22. 

 II. Funds shall be deposited into the substance abuse prevention and recovery fund as established by 318-F:25 to be distributed by the commissioner of the department of health and human services in coordination with the governor's commission on alcohol and other drugs under RSA 12-J. Funds may be awarded to a qualifying governmental entity or program for an approved use. All funds shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated for the purposes of this section. 

 III. The commissioner of the department of health and human services, in coordination with the governor's commission on alcohol and other drugs per RSA 12-J, shall continue to make distributions from the trust fund. 

 IV. The department of health and human services shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A necessary to implement this section. Such rules shall include funding qualifications, application procedures, time-lines for receiving, reviewing, and acting upon application requests, and reporting requirements. 

 V. Allocations shall be used for one or more of the following: 

 (a) Evidence-based, voluntary programs for substance abuse-related education, prevention, treatment, and recovery.

 (b) Mental heal