CSDP Blog

Despite legislators attempts to assuage his concerns, Gov. John Lynch vetoed New Hampshire's proposed medical marijuana bill, according to a July 10 New York Times story ("New Hampshire - Veto of Medical Marijuana Bill"). Lynch reiterated his fears regarding "distribution and cultivation," and stated, according to New Hampshire news outlet Seacoast Online ("Override Veto of Medical Marijuana Bill"), that "The fact remains that marijuana use for any purpose remains illegal under federal law." Although Lynch "said he could 'empathize' with supporters of the bill," he nonetheless "sided with law enforcement arguments about the drug somehow getting into the hands of people who don't qualify," Seacoast reports.

Seacoast, in particular, "hope[s] the Legislature will override [Lynch's] veto. However," as the website states, "the numbers needed to reach a two-thirds majority to do so in the House and Senate look doubtful." Though Rep. Evalyn Merrick, the bill's sponsor, has vowed to attempt the override, Sen. Martha Fuller Clark told Seacoast that "advocates of medical marijuana will have to go back to the drawing board next year."