2026 NH CANNABIS LEGALIZATION BILLS

HB CACR 19 | Constitutional Amendment Establishing the Right to Possess Cannabis. If a CACR receives 60% in both chambers, it qualifies for the ballot in the November election (the governor does not get an opportunity to veto). If approved by more than two-thirds of voters in November 2026, this new article would be added to the NH Constitution:
[Art.] 2-c. [Adult possession of cannabis.] “All adults who are 21 years of age or older shall have the right to possess a modest amount of cannabis intended for their personal consumption.” To qualify for the ballot, a CACR must receive 60% support in the House and Senate. – REP WHEELER | READ BILL

HB 186 | Legalization, Regulation & Taxation of Cannabis. The Licensing of Cannabis Establishments. Adult-use legalization, including home cultivation, with responsible regulation of cannabis production and sales. – REPS JARED SULLIVAN & HEATH HOWARD | READ BILL

HB 1446 | Relative to Second Amendment Protections for Registered Cannabis Patients. This bill would establish strong, explicit protections in the therapeutic cannabis law aimed at protecting patients’ 2A rights. It includes four provisions:

1. “A qualifying patient, caregiver, or other person lawfully registered under this chapter shall not be denied the right to purchase, possess, carry, or transfer firearms and ammunition under New Hampshire law on the basis of their participation in the therapeutic cannabis program.”
2. “For purposes of this chapter, the right to keep and bear arms is deemed an essential and inseparable element of the implementation of the therapeutic cannabis program. Any federal action that criminalizes or burdens the exercise of firearm rights by qualifying patients shall be construed as an action preventing the state of New Hampshire from implementing its therapeutic cannabis law.”
3. “No state or local agency, employee, or law enforcement officer shall expend resources, cooperate with, or assist in the enforcement of federal prohibitions against the possession of firearms by qualifying patients acting in compliance with this chapter.”
4. “The attorney general shall have authority to intervene, appear, or provide defense in any judicial proceeding where a qualifying patient faces federal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. section 922(g)(3) solely by virtue of their lawful participation in the therapeutic cannabis program.” – REP MANNION | READ BILL

SB 462 | Relative to Second Amendment Protections for Registered Cannabis Patients. The bill would add this sentence to the therapeutic cannabis law: “A qualifying patient’s therapeutic use of cannabis in accordance with this chapter shall not affect the individual’s right to purchase, possess, and transfer firearms in accordance with New Hampshire law.” – SEN MURPHY | READ BILL

HB 54 | Allowing Alternative Treatment Centers to Operate For-profit. NH is the only state that still requires medical cannabis businesses to be non-profits. Since ATCs are not recognized as non-profits by the federal government, this policy has resulted in increased costs for both businesses and patients. – REP WENDY THOMAS & REP SUZANNE VAIL | READ BILL

SB 479 | Allowing Alternative Treatment Centers to Operate as For-Profit Entities. This bill is the same as HB 54. The only difference is that it is sponsored by a Republican senator rather than a Democratic representative, and it has a strong, bipartisan group of cosponsors. For this reason, it may have a better chance of becoming law. – SEN INNIS | READ BILL

SB 400 | Imposing New Requirements on the Therapeutic Cannabis Medical Oversight Board. This bill would require the (TCMOB) to annually review scientific evidence for all current and additional qualifying conditions and include citations in their annual reports to the legislature. The TCMOB meets four times each year and does not have time to review scientific evidence for all conditions annually. Currently, the TCMOB reviews evidence for a qualifying condition when one of its members voices a concern, which is the appropriate process for an oversight board of this kind. NHCann does not support this bill. – SEN GANNON | READ BILL

SB 468 | Relative to Enabling ATCs to Operate One Greenhouse. (Currently, ATCs are required to grow only indoors, which is the most expensive way to grow cannabis.) – SEN PEARL | READ BILL

LSR 445 | Relative to Legalizing Possession of Cannabis up to 2.5 Ounces of Flower and 10 Grams of Concentrates. These cannabinoids would have to be independently lab tested in NH before ATCs could use them in products. – SEN ROCHEFORT | READ BILL 

HB 1235 | Relative to Cultivation Locations For Alternative Treatment Centers. Currently, possession of up to ¾ ounce is punishable as a violation carrying a $100 fine, and possession of more than ¾ ounce is a criminal offense. – REP SULLIVAN | READ BILL

SB 461 | Clarifying the Definition of Hemp, Limiting “Total THC Concentration” to .3%. This bill would amend the definition of hemp to clarify that “total THC concentration” includes the sum of all THC variants including tetrahydrocannabolic acid (THCA). This would bring NH’s definition into line with the new definition of hemp in federal law. However, the bill would not address other aspects of hemp policy that were controversial in the recent federal legislation, such as per-container THC limits. Currently, some NH retailers are selling unregulated cannabis products labeled as “THCA flower” and “THCA concentrates.” Since THCA converts to THC when heated, these products are virtually indistinguishable from “marijuana” products and should not be sold under the guise of “hemp”. – SEN FENTON | READ BILL

SB 485 | Relative to the Licensure, Regulation and Taxation of Hemp-Based Derivative Products. This bill would authorize the Liquor Commission to regulate the sale of hemp-derived THC products, which would be limited to 15mg of THC per serving, at licensed retailers. The language of this bill is confusing – for example, the definition of “hemp-derived cannabinoid” specifically includes Delta-8 THC, Delta-10 THC, HHC, and THCV, but specifically excludes CBD, CBG, and other well-known cannabinoids which are more typically associated with hemp. – SEN LANG | READ BILL

SB 624 | Relative to Restricting Access to Certain Hemp-Derived Products. This bill would prohibit the possession and sale of hemp-derived products containing more than .3% total THC. The penalty for possession would be a violation for a first offense ($100) fine and a class B misdemeanor carrying a fine of “not less than $300” for second and subsequent offenses. Retailers selling these products would face harsher penalties. Notably, the penalties in this bill are more severe than the penalties for possessing small amounts of “marijuana” (under the decrim law, cannabis possession can’t be charged as a misdemeanor until the 3rd offense). This bill would not fix the THCA loophole or the edible products loophole, so it would not be effective if the goal is to prohibit all hemp-derived THC products. NHCann does not support this bill. – SEN GANNON | READ BILL