New Hampshire Lawmakers Prefile Multiple Marijuana Bills For 2026—Including Measure To Let Voters Legalize On The Ballot

OG article by Kyle Jaeger

December 8, 2025

New Hampshire lawmakers have prefiled over a dozen marijuana and psychedelics bills for 2026, focusing on legalization and reforms. Key is Rep. Jonah Wheeler's (D) CACR 19, a constitutional amendment for ballot placement allowing adults 21+ to possess modest cannabis amounts, needing supermajority legislative support and two-thirds voter approval to bypass Gov. Kelly Ayotte's (R) veto threat. Other bills: HB 1235 by Rep. Jared Sullivan (D) for statutory legalization; SB 462 and HB 1446 protecting gun rights for therapeutic patients; SB 479 allowing for-profit medical dispensaries; SB 400 on oversight board duties; SB 461 redefining hemp; SB 485 on hemp product regulation; SB 624 restricting hemp access. These follow Congress's hemp THC recriminalization. Psychedelics bills pending. Recent developments include advancing nonprofit-to-for-profit conversions and discussions on legalization despite opposition. Rep. Sullivan urges sending bills to force records. Matt Simon of GraniteLeaf Cannabis criticizes prohibition as unconstitutional. Gov. Ayotte remains opposed post-federal rescheduling. The measures reflect public support for reform, potentially shifting New England's last holdout state. Voter-driven paths could overcome legislative hurdles, mirroring successful ballot initiatives elsewhere.