With licensed dispensaries not expected to open until next year, medical marijuana advocates hope a bill could bring relief to patients sooner by letting them grow their own.
The bill went before a Senate committee today.
New Hampshire became the last New England state to legalize medical marijuana last year, but Matt Simon with the Marijuana Policy Project says the rulemaking process is delaying its implementation.
He says the bill would allow patients to grow their own until a dispensary opens within 30 miles of their house.
“After dispensaries are open, it will only benefit patients in outlying areas. But for now, for the patients who can’t afford to wait a year or two or more, and who knows how long it will actually take, that’s what this bill is about and that’s what we’re trying to draw attention to.”
The bill already passed the House by a 3-1 margin.
The state’s advisory council has until January to come up with the draft of the rules for implementing the law.
Governor Maggie Hassan made it clear during debate last year that she is against patients growing their own.
But Simon believes depending on how the vote goes in the Senate, there could be enough support to override a potential veto from Hassan.
