Latest news with #KevinVerville
Forbes
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
New Hampshire Senate Panel Rejects Cannabis Legalization Bill
A New Hampshire Senate legislative committee this week voted to recommend that the full chamber reject a cannabis legalization bill approved by the House of Representatives last month. The Senate Judiciary Committee marked the bill as 'inexpedient to legislate' (ITL) at a hearing on Tuesday, likely killing the measure in the Senate, according to a report from online cannabis news source Marijuana Moment. The measure, HB 75 from Republican state Rep. Kevin Verville, will still move to the Senate floor for a vote. The chamber would then be able to approve the bill or follow the Judiciary Committee's recommendation to kill the legislation. The cannabis legalization bill was approved by the New Hampshire House of Representatives via a voice vote in February. If passed, the bill would remove criminal penalties for some offenses related to possessing and using cannabis by adults aged 21 and older. The measure would not create a regulated cannabis industry or legalize sales of recreational marijuana. Public consumption of cannabis would remain illegal under the legislation. Cannabis would still be illegal for those under the age of 21. Those under age 21 caught using or possessing marijuana would be guilty of a violation. Minors under age 18 found to be possessing or using cannabis would be referred for substance use disorders screening. Prior to the House of Representatives vote on HB 75, Democratic state Rep. Jodi Newell spoke in favor of the legislation, saying 'the overwhelming majority of Granite Staters who implore this body to end the criminalization of cannabis, to end the fear of unnecessary disruption to people's lives in the event that they find cannabis to be their nighttime sleep aid, their mood enhancer or their morning pick-me-up.' 'I stand asking you once again to pass legislation that would entrust our citizens over the age of 21 with the responsibility to consume cannabis, if they so choose, without fear of retribution from the state,' Newell said. Newell told her colleagues that her husband died of a heroin overdose and that alcohol killed her brother, 'but somehow we still maintain that our citizens cannot be trusted to consume cannabis responsibly, even as we know that it is virtually impossible to consume a lethal amount, and even as we know that cannabis is a much safer alternative to the substances that have taken the lives of my loved ones and likely many of yours.' The Judiciary Committee also voted to mark two other cannabis-related bills as ITL during Tuesday's legislative hearing. One of the bills would allow medical marijuana patients registered with the state to grow cannabis at home. The other measure would give the state's existing medical marijuana providers, known as alternative treatment centers (ATCs), the authority to buy non-intoxicating hemp cannabinoids from commercial producers. The ATCs would then be allowed to use the cannabinoids in products for patients, provided they pass laboratory tests for safety and purity. Cannabis advocates were not surprised by the Senate Judiciary Committee's rejection of HB 75, the cannabis legalization bill. But Matt Simon, director of public and government relations at the medical marijuana provider GraniteLeaf Cannabis, said that the panel's rejection of the medical marijuana bills illustrates the committee's apparent distaste for all cannabis policy reform legislation. 'It appears that a few senators just want to kill every bill that deals with cannabis policy, no matter how modest and non-controversial,' Simon told Marijuana Moment. 'That's very unfortunate because support for cannabis policy reform has always been bipartisan in this state.' A separate cannabis legalization bill approved by the House last week, HB 198, remains pending in the New Hampshire legislature.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Hampshire House moves to reduce criminal penalties for shrooms
The New Hampshire House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that would reduce the penalties for people 21 and older caught with psilocybin, the psychedelic drug commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms. The House approved House Bill 528 during Wednesday's voting session as part of the consent agenda through a voice vote. If enacted, the bill would reduce the penalty for people 21 and older who obtain, purchase, transport, possess, or use psilocybin in New Hampshire from a felony to a simple violation with a small fine and no jail time. On the first offense, someone caught with psilocybin could face a fine of up to $100 under this bill; on the second offense that rises to $500, and for third-time offenders it could be up to $1,000. Second or third offenses would also rise from a violation to a misdemeanor under this bill. The drug is currently illegal in New Hampshire under the Controlled Drug Act. Originally, the bill's proponents, including its sponsor Deerfield Republican Rep. Kevin Verville, called for psilocybin to be legalized entirely for people 21 and older. However, the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee ultimately amended the proposal to simply lessen the punishment. Earlier this month, the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted unanimously in favor of the bill. The legislation still must be approved by both the Senate and the governor before it can become law. 'Not only is this not really a dangerous drug, but it also has medicinal benefits that people are unable to take advantage of currently because of its classification under the Controlled Drug Act,' Rep. Alissandra Murray, a Manchester Democrat, said during the committee's March 7 meeting. 'While entirely removing it might be too big a step for this Legislature to take right now, I think this is a good compromise to start with.' In 2019, psilocybin was outlawed in all 50 U.S. states. However, Oregon became the first state to legalize the drug in 2020. Colorado also legalized it in 2022. It is still illegal in the remaining 48 states. Cannabis is another recreational drug that has seen even more growing acceptance as of late. Cannabis is now legal for medicinal purposes in 39 U.S. states and for recreational use in 24 after once being illegal across the entire country. In New Hampshire, it is still illegal for recreational use. However, it is decriminalized and legal for medicinal purposes. Verville has sponsored another bill, House Bill 75, that would legalize recreational cannabis. This story was originally published by the New Hampshire Bulletin. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH House moves to reduce criminal penalties for shrooms
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Hampshire House votes to reduce punishments for shrooms
On first offense, someone caught with psilocybin could face a fine of up to $100 under the bill; on second offense that rises to $500, and for third-time offenders it could be up to $1,000. (Photo) The New Hampshire House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that would reduce the penalties for people 21 and older caught with psilocybin, the psychedelic drug commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms. The House approved House Bill 528 during Wednesday's voting session as part of the consent agenda through a voice vote. If enacted, the bill would reduce the penalty for people 21 and older who obtain, purchase, transport, possess, or use psilocybin in New Hampshire from a felony to a simple violation with a small fine and no jail time. On first offense, someone caught with psilocybin could face a fine of up to $100 under this bill; on second offense that rises to $500, and for third-time offenders it could be up to $1,000. Second or third offenses would also rise from a violation to a misdemeanor under this bill. The drug is currently illegal in New Hampshire under the Controlled Drug Act. Originally the bill's proponents, including its sponsor Deerfield Republican Rep. Kevin Verville, called for psilocybin to be legalized entirely for people 21 and older. However, the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee ultimately amended the proposal to simply lessen the punishment. Earlier this month, the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted unanimously in favor of the bill. The legislation still must be approved by both the Senate and governor before it can become law. 'Not only is this not really a dangerous drug, but it also has medicinal benefits that people are unable to take advantage of currently because of its classification under the Controlled Drug Act,' Rep. Alissandra Murray, a Manchester Democrat, said during the committee's March 7 meeting. 'While entirely removing it might be too big a step for this Legislature to take right now, I think this is a good compromise to start with.' In 2019, psilocybin was outlawed in all 50 U.S. states. However, Oregon became the first state to legalize the drug in 2020. Colorado also legalized it in 2022. It is still illegal in the remaining 48 states. Cannabis is another recreational drug that has seen even more growing acceptance as of late. Cannabis is now legal for medicinal purposes in 39 U.S. states and for recreational use in 24 after once being illegal across the entire country. In New Hampshire, it is still illegal for recreational use. However, it is decriminalized and legal for medicinal purposes. Verville has sponsored another bill, House Bill 75, that would legalize recreational cannabis.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Hampshire legislators attempt to reduce the punishments around magic mushrooms
The committee heard from constituents who described using small doses of psilocybin to deal with migraines. (Photo) After briefly considering legalizing the drug entirely for people 21 and older, a bipartisan group of New Hampshire lawmakers are trying to lessen the legal penalties for psilocybin, the recreational, hallucinogenic, and psychedelic drug commonly known as 'magic mushrooms' or 'shrooms.' The House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted unanimously, 16-0, this month to recommend the entire House vote to approve House Bill 528, which is sponsored by Deerfield Republican Rep. Kevin Verville. The bill would reduce the penalty for people 21 and older to obtain, purchase, transport, possess, or use psilocybin in New Hampshire from a felony to a simple violation with a small fine and no jail time. Psilocybin is currently outlawed in New Hampshire under the Controlled Drug Act. Originally the bill called for psilocybin to be legalized entirely for people 21 and older, but the committee ultimately amended the bill to simply lessen the punishment. In a hearing last month ahead of the March 7 vote, Verville argued psilocybin was different from more dangerous drugs like narcotics, amphetamines, and opioids. He described the bill as 'harm reduction' as it prevents people from suffering long-term consequences of felony convictions for something he doesn't believe is truly harmful. He argued the drug is readily available on the black market anyway. He also said that because the drug is still illegal federally, it wouldn't be openly mass produced. 'I dream of a day when we have medical psychedelics available,' Verville said. 'I dream of that day. There are demonstrated medical benefits with depression, post-traumatic stress syndrome, (and) interestingly enough, addiction.' The committee heard from constituents who described using small doses of psilocybin to deal with migraines, and members appeared to find this testimony compelling. 'Not only is this not really a dangerous drug, but it also has medicinal benefits that people are unable to take advantage of currently because of its classification under the Controlled Drug Act,' Rep. Alissandra Murray, a Manchester Democrat, said Friday. 'While entirely removing it might be too big a step for this Legislature to take right now, I think this is a good compromise to start with.' Rep. David Meuse, a Portsmouth Democrat, said psilocybin is 'increasingly analogous to what we saw with cannabis a decade ago.' Cannabis, which was once an illegal drug in all 50 U.S. states, is now legal for medicinal purposes in 39 states and for recreational use in 24. It is still illegal for recreational use in New Hampshire, though it is decriminalized and legal for medicinal purposes. Verville is also behind another bill, House Bill 75, seeking to legalize recreational cannabis; that bill passed through the state House in February. 'It's time to break the log jam, and I hope we pass this,' Meuse said of the psilocybin bill. A few of the bill's supporters were torn though. Rep. Jennifer Rhodes, a Winchester Republican, said she supported the bill because she has 'tremendous respect for' Verville, the sponsor, and because he 'is the one person I don't want to go up on the House floor against.' However, she said she doesn't believe psilocybin should be considered medicine as some had suggested. 'If we're doing this because we're trying to take away the penalty, that's one thing, but doing it because we're trying to say we're making it be medicine, that's the part I'm not OK with,' she said prior to voting in favor. Psilocybin was illegal in all 50 U.S. states in 2019. However, Oregon legalized the drug — which had recently been decriminalized in a handful of cities including Denver, Colorado, and Santa Cruz, California — in 2020. Colorado followed suit and legalized it in 2022. Currently, it is illegal in the remaining 48 states.
