NHCann Friday Wrap Up: Week of Nov 9, 2026

This week in New Hampshire cannabis news: lawmakers laid out how a legalization bill could move in 2027, the first details of that bill came into view, and the House bill request window enters its final week. Below is what NHCann shared on social this week, plus federal developments on rescheduling and descheduling worth watching, with links to the original reporting.

Lawmakers Outline Two Paths to Legalization in 2027

WMUR reported that with Democrats now holding majorities in both the House and Senate, legislators see a clearer path for adult-use legalization in the coming session. Gov. Kelly Ayotte continues to oppose legalization, citing public health and quality-of-life concerns, so lawmakers describe two possible routes: a bipartisan compromise the governor could sign, or a two-thirds vote in both chambers to override a veto. Rep. Will Darby told WMUR he believes the governor “will be more willing to compromise,” and Rep. Jared Sullivan said there is “room for negotiation” on a bill that can draw bipartisan support. Rep. Alissandra Murray pointed to the tax revenue Granite Staters currently send to neighboring states. New Hampshire remains the only New England state without a legal adult-use market.

Source: WMUR. Shared by NHCann on Nov. 10.

First Details of the 2027 Legalization Bill

Rep. Jared Sullivan (D-Bethlehem), who plans to sponsor the measure, outlined its main features to the Keene Sentinel in a story shared by Valley News through the Granite State News Collaborative. His bill would allow adults to possess small amounts, prohibit public use, and permit sales through privately run, state-licensed stores, with the possibility of sales in state-run liquor stores as well. Sales would fall under the existing meals and rooms tax, which Sullivan estimates could bring in about $30 million a year. He described ending arrests as his top reason for the bill, saying, “Let’s stop arresting people and give adults the freedom to use it responsibly.” Returning Rep. Timothy Egan (D-Sugar Hill) told the paper that new cannabis revenue could help with affordability and property taxes without an income or sales tax. Because the governor has long opposed legalization, a bill would still need either a compromise or a two-thirds override vote in both chambers. Details will continue to change as drafting moves forward, and NHCann will keep advocating for a regulated, free-market approach that gives local businesses a fair shot.

Source: Valley News / Keene Sentinel. Shared by NHCann on Nov. 12.

Tribal Nations Ask DOJ to Include Them in Rescheduling

The Marijuana Herald reported that the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) adopted Resolution PSC-26-048, asking the U.S. Department of Justice to extend its April Schedule III order to tribally licensed cannabis businesses. That order moved state-licensed medical marijuana and FDA-approved products to Schedule III and created a federal registration pathway for state-licensed operators, but it did not specifically address businesses licensed by tribal governments. NCAI is asking DOJ to amend the order or issue a separate one, and to hold formal consultations with tribal governments under Executive Order 13175. DOJ has not publicly said how it will respond. The request is a reminder that piecemeal federal changes can leave regulated businesses on unequal footing, while a separate DEA proceeding on the remaining Schedule I marijuana is still pending.

Source: The Marijuana Herald. Shared by NHCann on Nov. 11.

A 2,800-Year-Old Cannabis Story, and a Scientific Debate

A study published in the journal Science, reported by the Associated Press, describes an excavation at the Tunnug 1 burial mound in southern Siberia, a site tied to early Scythian culture. The international research team found radiocarbon-dated cannabis seeds and preserved human hair, and they interpret chemical traces in the hair as evidence of psychoactive cannabis use roughly 2,800 years ago. Co-author Gino Caspari of the University of Bern said it is not clear whether the cannabis was inhaled or ingested. Not every expert agrees: forensic toxicologist Volker Auwaerter called the hair analysis “scientifically weak” and said the data do not rule out simple contact with plant material in the grave, while archaeologist Elisa Guerra Doce of the University of Valladolid backed the authors’ interpretation. Either way, the research is a reminder that cannabis has been part of human societies for millennia.

Source: Associated Press via New York Post. Shared by NHCann on Nov. 9.

MORE Act Picks Up Its 76th Sponsor

At the federal level, The Marijuana Herald reported that Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) signed on to the MORE Act (H.R. 5068), bringing the bill to 76 sponsors and marking its first new addition since July. The bill would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act entirely, going further than Schedule III, and would create a process to expunge certain federal marijuana convictions. Earlier versions passed the U.S. House in 2020 and 2022 but never cleared Congress, and the current bill has not received a floor vote.

Source: The Marijuana Herald.

Get Involved

The NH House bill request window closes Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 4:00 p.m., according to House Record No. 41. Contact your state representative, new or returning, and ask them to file or co-sponsor a legalization bill built around licensed local businesses, testing, tracking, and real enforcement against illegal grows. New Legislator Orientation runs Nov. 17 to 19, and the new House convenes for Organization Day on Dec. 2, so now is a good time to introduce yourself and NHCann to newly elected members. Stay nonpartisan in how you make the case. Live free, and let’s legalize.