New Hampshire legislators are preparing for an active 2026 session in regards to cannabis and psychoactive drugs. They have filed at least 12 requests to legislative staff for draft reform legislation they intend to submit next year.
The proposals include legalizing marijuana in its adult form for non-commercial and commercial use, protecting the rights of medical cannabis patients to own guns, allowing for the operation of dispensaries on a profit basis, revising hemp’s definition, and allowing for the use of Psilocybin for therapeutic purposes within a clinic setting.
Three measures are aimed at legalizing cannabis, which is a topic that has been stalled by the legislative in recent years. Three of these measures are related to cannabis legalization, which has been stalled in the legislature for years.
Rep. Jonah Wheeler’s (D) request for marijuana legalization is an amendment to the constitution that would, if passed by the Legislature, put reform on the ballot and be decided by voters.
Donovan Fenton of the Senate (D), in a proposal for legalization, explained that part the reason is so the state can catch up to its neighbours.
He told The Keene Sentinel, “I know that every state in our area has legalized marijuana.” They’re having no problems with it. It would also be an excellent revenue generator.”
Two Republican members of the bicameral chamber are sponsoring two bills that aim to protect the rights of medical cannabis patients who have registered their use.
Two bills would permit the therapeutic use of Psilocybin within a medically regulated setting, and another would enable New Hampshire to participate in “multi-state clinical trials” investigating the effectiveness of Ibogaine in treating substance abuse disorder.
Rep. Aidan Ankarberg, (I), pre-filed an act that would strike down the Controlled Drug Act of New York, theoretically legalizing all current illicit drugs.
This is the list of cannabis and psychedelic legislation requests that will be presented in the next session, 2026.
- Sen. Donovan Fenton: regarding the legalization, regulation and funding of cannabis.
- Rep. Jared Sullivan, (D): Legalizing cannabis in certain amounts.
- Rep. Jonah Wheeler, (D): in relation to personal cannabis possession. Adults 21 or older will be allowed to own a small amount of marijuana for personal use.
- Sen. Keith Murphy(R): Relating to the right for therapeutic cannabis patients who possess and/or transfer firearms to do so in accordance to state law.
- Rep. Tom Mannion’s (R-) bill: prohibiting the disqualification of an individual for the possession, purchase or use of firearms because of their therapeutic cannabis usage.
- Sen. Daniel Innis, R: Allowing alternative treatment centers operate for profit.
- Sens. Bill Gannon, Regina Birdsell and Reps. Michael Vose, James Creighton, Liz Barbour, Lilli Walsh and Reps.
- Sen. Donovan Fenton, (D): in relation to hemp definition.
- Rep. Michael Moffett: allow the use psilocybin for qualified medical conditions, in clinical settings approved by law.
- Rep. Buzz Scherr, (D): Authorizing medical use of Psilocybin via a department established program.
- Rep. Michael Moffett(R): regarding the state’s involvement in a multinational consortium for conducting clinical trials with ibogaine, an investigational drug to treat substance use disorders and other neurological or mental conditions where ibogaine shows efficacy.
- Rep. Aidan Ankarberg, (I): Repeal of the Controlled Drug Act
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A New Hampshire House Finance Subcommittee, however, advanced earlier this month a bill that would allow for-profit medical marijuana dispensaries to be converted from non-profit organisations.
Another New Hampshire House committee recently discussed plans to move forward with a bill to legalize marijuana altogether–even though members accept that it is unlikely to advance beyond the chamber given opposition in the Senate and the threat of a veto by the governor.
We know the direction it will take. “Let’s give a positive signal”, said Rep. Jared Sullivan, the D-representative who sponsored the proposal for legalization during a hearing of the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee last month. Let them piss off the voters who are concerned about this issue.
Sullivan ultimately made a persuasive defense of moving forward with his original bill, pointing out that the House has repeatedly passed similar legalization legislation and that the chamber should stand its ground, forcing the Senate and governor to again go on record with their opposition to a policy popular among voters.
Meanwhile, after the House added provisions to a Senate-passed bill that would allow medical marijuana patients to grow cannabis at home, those measures were stripped in conference.
Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R) also said in August that her position on marijuana legalization would not change even if the federal government moved forward with rescheduling the plant—a policy change President Donald Trump is actively considering.
Ayotte stated, “I have to follow federal law if federal laws change.” My position, however, has not changed. I believe that legalizing marijuana is not the right thing to do in the near future.
Kristie Gaianopulos provided the image.
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