Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 186 · 2026 · House · Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee

Legalizing and regulating cannabis

AI-generated

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

Establishes procedures for the legalization, regulation, and taxation of cannabis and for the licensing and regulation of cannabis establishments, and makes related appropriations.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill establishes procedures for the legalization, regulation, and taxation of cannabis; the licensing and regulation of cannabis establishments; and makes appropriations therefor.

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

“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 misuse prevention, treatment, and recovery fund established in RSA 318-F:27.”
RSA 126-A:106
“"Cannabis" or “marijuana” means all parts of the plant of the genus cannabis containing over 0.3 percent THC on a dry weight basis, whether growing or not, the resin extracted from any part of the plant, and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, or its resin, including cannabis concentrate.”
RSA 318-F:1
“Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the following acts, if undertaken by a person 21 years of age or older, shall not be illegal under New Hampshire law or the law of any political subdivision of the state or be a basis for seizure or forfeiture of assets under New Hampshire law:”
RSA 318-F:2
“No person who is 21 years of age or older shall cultivate cannabis plants except as provided in this section:”
RSA 318-F:3

Official record

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

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

Public testimony

No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Oct 28, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass10–7
    Overall
    59% yea
  • Jan 7, 2026HouseDivisionOught to PassAdopted208–135
    Overall
    61% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate2–1
    Overall
    67% yea
  • Mar 5, 2026SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate2–1
    Overall
    67% yea
  • Mar 5, 2026SenateRoll callSen. Gannon Moved Laid on TableAdopted15–9How they voted
    Overall
    63% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    15–194% yea
    Democrats
    0–80% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 30, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer Affairs4:08:16–4:09:241m 8slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSubcommittee Work Session
  • Feb 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSubcommittee Work Session
  • Mar 5, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer Affairs11:54–13:031m 9slocated in the stream transcriptExecutive Session; Retained in Committee
  • Sep 10, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamFull Committee Work Session
  • Oct 28, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
  • Jan 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floor32:40–33:551m 15slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, division 208-135; Referred to Finance
  • Feb 10, 2026Public hearingSenate JudiciaryWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHearing
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnamed in a list of bills, not taken up — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Special Order to the Next Session, Without Objection — adopted
  • Mar 5, 2026Floor debateSenate floor5:19:26–5:21:582m 32slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Pending Motion Inexpedient to Legislate; Special Order to the end of the calendar, Without Objection — adopted

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 Commerce and Consumer Affairs HJ 2 P. 9
  2. Jan 30, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/30/2025 01:15 pm LOB 302-304
  3. Feb 11, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 02/11/2025 10:00 am LOB 104
  4. Feb 18, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 02/18/2025 11:00 am LOB 104
  5. Mar 5, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/05/2025 10:00 am LOB 302-304
  6. Mar 5, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
  7. Sep 10, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 09/10/2025 10:00 am GP 229
  8. Oct 28, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 10/28/2025 11:00 am GP 229
  9. Oct 28, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 10/28/2025 (Vote 10-7; RC) HC 51 P. 19
  10. Nov 10, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  11. Jan 7, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA DV 208-135 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 83
  12. Jan 7, 2026HouseReferred to Finance 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 83
  13. Jan 8, 2026HouseReferral Waived by Committee Chair per House Rule 47(f) 01/08/2026 HJ 2 P. 57
  14. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 2
  15. Feb 10, 2026SenHearing: 02/10/2026, Room 100, SH, 02:10 pm; SC 5A
  16. Feb 19, 2026SenCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate, 02/19/2026, Vote 2-1; SC 6
  17. Feb 19, 2026SenSpecial Order to the Next Session, Without Objection, MA; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
  18. Mar 5, 2026SenCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate, 03/05/2026, Vote 2-1; SC 8
  19. Mar 5, 2026SenSpecial Order to the end of the calendar, Without Objection, MA; 03/05/2026; SJ 5
  20. Mar 5, 2026SenSen. Gannon Moved Laid on Table, RC 15Y-9N, MA; 03/05/2026; SJ 5
  21. Mar 5, 2026SenPending Motion Inexpedient to Legislate; 03/05/2026; SJ 5

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

  • Introducedversion

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