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HB 198 · 2025 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Legalizing cannabis, banning public use

AI-generated

relative to legalizing certain quantities of cannabis and establishing penalties for the smoking or vaping of cannabis in public.

Legalizes possession of a specified amount of cannabis for persons 21 years of age or older and prohibits the smoking or vaping of cannabis in public.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · November 3, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill legalizes the possession of a certain amount of cannabis for persons 21 years or older and prohibits public consumption of cannabis.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

““Cannabis concentrate” means the resin extracted from a cannabis plant and every preparation that is composed primarily of such resin, including, but not limited to, hashish and cannabis oils for vaporization.”
RSA 318-B:2-c
“Any person who drives on any way a vehicle while knowingly having in his or her possession or in any part of the vehicle a controlled drug or controlled drug analog in violation of the provisions of RSA 318-B shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and his or her license shall be revoked or his or her right to drive denied for a period of 60 days and at the discretion of the court for a period not to exceed 2 years.”
RSA 265-A:43
“"Cannabis concentrate" shall not include cannabis products made from cannabis concentrate where the majority of the content by weight is something other than cannabis such as, but not limited to, edible products, topical products, and tinctures.”
RSA 318-B:2-c
“"Cannabis product" means any product that contains cannabis, including cannabis extracts, concentrated cannabis products, and products that contain cannabis and other ingredients and are intended for use or consumption, such as, but not limited to, edible products, ointments, and tinctures.”
RSA 318-B:2-c

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Jared SullivanDPrime
  • Rep. Heath HowardDDeputy Ranking Member· Executive Departments and Administration

Also: Rep. Jonah WheelerD

Public testimony

25 signed in online · 7 wrote testimony

72% support28% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Similar to HB 75 but perhaps more palatable due to limiting the amount of possession. I would just add that unlimited amounts of cannabis are currently available to anyone that wants it in our state.”
— Daryl Eames, Manchester · NH Cannabis Association Constituentssupports
“With all of our surrounding states having legalized Marijuana we shouldn't limit interstate commerce criminalized possession of a substance that when used properly offers no danger to the public.”
— Adam Normandin, Milfordsupports
“[Art.] 2. [Natural Rights.] All men have certain natural, essential, and inherent rights among which are, the enjoying and defending life and liberty; acquiring, possessing, and protecting, property; and, in a word, of seeking and obtaining happiness.…”
— Brian Homer, North STRATFORDsupports
“We have been through all this many times before. Besides, Gov Ayotte will veto.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes
“I oppose this bill and ask you to as well. Our state continues to fight back on NOT wanting this drug legalized. It is already decriminalized, and no one is going to jail for a personal amount of marijuana.…”
— Celeste Clark, Raymondopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 5, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass9–7
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseRoll callOught to PassAdopted208–125How they voted
    Overall
    62% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    73–11539% yea
    Democrats
    135–1093% yea
  • May 1, 2025SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate3–2
    Overall
    60% yea
  • May 1, 2025SenateRoll callSen. Gannon Moved Laid on TableAdopted12–10How they voted
    Overall
    55% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    12–286% yea
    Democrats
    0–80% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 23, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety3:42:16–3:45:443m 28slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 5, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety42:01–44:302m 29slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floor28:08–30:272m 19slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, roll call 208-125
  • Apr 15, 2025Public hearingSenate Judiciary2:00:06–2:04:094m 3slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateSenate floor1:26:58–1:28:051m 7slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Pending Motion Inexpedient to Legislate; Sen. Gannon Moved Laid on Table — adopted, roll call 12-10

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 2 P. 10
  2. Jan 23, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/23/2025 01:30 pm LOB 202-204
  3. Mar 5, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/05/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  4. Mar 5, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 03/05/2025 (Vote 9-7; RC) HC 17 P. 26
  5. Mar 19, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 26, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA RC 208-125 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 45
  7. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 10
  8. Apr 15, 2025SenHearing: 04/15/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:40 pm; SC 17
  9. May 1, 2025SenCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate, 05/01/2025, Vote 3-2; SC 19
  10. May 1, 2025SenSen. Gannon Moved Laid on Table, RC 12Y-10N, MA; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  11. May 1, 2025SenPending Motion Inexpedient to Legislate; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  12. Oct 31, 2025SenInexpedient to Legislate, Senate Rule 3-23, 10/31/2025; SJ 1

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

  • Introducedversion

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.