NH lawmakers launch another attempt to legalize marijuana
INVESTED IN THE PROCESS, AND SOME LAWMAKERS, LAWMAKERS WHO’VE BEEN LISTENING TO GOVERNOR CHRIS SUNUNU, ARE TRYING TO ALIGN THEIR EFFORTS TO PASS CANNABIS LEGALIZATION WITH HIS REQUIREMENTS FOR NOT VETOING THE BILL. AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST IS A SO-CALLED FRANCHISE MODEL THAT WOULD OPEN 15 STORES UNDER ROBUST STATE OVERSIGHT. YOU CAN THINK OF IT LIKE A LIKE A CHAIN, RIGHT? THERE’S A THERE’S A MCDONALD’S HEADQUARTERS AND ALL THE MCDONALD’S LOOK THE SAME. AND THEY ALL ARE REGULATED AND PRICED AND HAVE SIMILAR PRODUCTS AND SO ON. THE GOVERNOR ALSO WANTS FRANCHISEES TO ACCEPT A BAN ON LOBBYING AND POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS. TWO OF THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL PROVISIONS HE’S ASKING FOR SOME CANNABIS ADVOCATES SAY THE FRANCHISE MODEL WILL OPEN THE DOOR TO FEDERAL INTERVENTION. IF YOU’RE A FRANCHISE, YOU ARE PUTTING THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE DIRECTLY UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AND THE FEDERAL FRANCHISE REGULATIONS, WHICH MEANS, IN THEORY, A POTENTIAL THAT IF A FRANCHISEE DECIDED THAT THEY WERE BEING TREATED UNFAIRLY, THEY COULD LODGE A COMPLAINT WITH THE FTC. AND IF THE FTC FINDS IT HAS MERIT, THEY COULD LAUNCH A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. ANY LEGALIZATION FRAMEWORK WILL HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE’S CURRENT SYSTEM OF THERAPY. CANNABIS, WITH ITS SEVEN ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT CENTERS AND 14,000 PATIENTS WITHOUT PROTECTIONS, THEY COULD BE PUSHED OUT OF BUSINESS. SOME CONTEND A FRANCHISE SYSTEM WILL ALSO DISADVANTAGE LOCAL GROWERS. THE PROPOSED MODEL EMPHASIZES LARGE CORPORATIONS AND DISCOURAGES SMALL CRAFT BUSINESSES, WHICH IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE PREACH IN OUR CONSTITUTION. MANY STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS PROCESS ARE WARY. THEY SAY THERE’S NO GUARANTEE A BILL GETS SIGNED, EVEN IF IT REACHES THE GOVERNOR’S DESK. BUT THE LAWMAKERS WORKING WITH SUNUNU SAY THERE’S ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT. IF YOU WANT SOMETHING TO COME ALONG. IT’S BEST THAT WE ALL PAT O
NH lawmakers launch another attempt to legalize marijuana
Lawmakers who have been listening to Gov. Chris Sununu are trying to align their efforts to pass cannabis legalization with his requirements for not vetoing the bill.
Lawmakers who have been listening to Gov. Chris Sununu are trying to align their efforts to pass cannabis legalization with his requirements for not vetoing the bill.