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Marijuana Decriminalization

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Citizens Count Editor
Summary

Recreational marijuana is decriminalized – but not legalized – in New Hampshire. There are still consequences for being caught with small amounts of marijuana, but they are less severe than they used to be.

Since September 16, 2017, possession of ¾ of an ounce or less of the drug amounts to a violation, like a speeding ticket, instead of a criminal offense that would go onto someone's record. 

If you were caught with a small quantity of weed before 2017, you may be able to get your criminal charges annulled.

Learn more about criminal records annulment

What are New Hampshire’s marijuana laws?

Marijuana is not legal in New Hampshire, regardless of the quantity you possess. The sole exception is legally acquired medical marijuana.

For these types and quantities of the drug:

  • Up to 3/4 of an ounce of marijuana
  • Up to 5 grams of hashish
  • Marijuana-infused products containing up to 300 mg of THC, in childproof containers (but only if you're over 21)

...the following rules apply:

  • Possession is no longer a criminal offense. Instead, it's a violation, like a parking ticket. You will probably get a $100 fine and won't go on your criminal record.
  • You can get the fine waived for your first offense if you complete a substance abuse assessment within 60 days of getting convicted. 
  • You can't get arrested, unless you refuse to identify yourself or are breaking another law. 
  • If you're under 18, you could still get taken into custody and could go to juvenile court. 
  • Getting caught more than three times within a three-year period can lead to criminal charges, subject to a heftier fine. 

However, serious criminal penalties, including jail time, still apply to possession of larger quantities of marijuana, growing marijuana, or to getting caught selling the drug.

How is decriminalization different from medicinal marijuana?

New Hampshire’s medicinal marijuana law, which was passed in 2013, legalizes the use of cannabis for certain prescribed medical purposes.

  • Those using marijuana for legal medicinal purposes must have a qualifying condition, such as cancer, glaucoma, or HIV.
  • Medicinal marijuana users must apply for a DHHS-issued ID card and can only acquire the drug from a licensed dispensary. 

Learn more about medical marijuana in NH

Federal marijuana law

The US federal government considers cannabis a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance, a classification which states that there is “no currently accepted medical use” for the drug. There have been extensive legal challenges to this classification, but thus far, none have been successful. 

  • So far as the federal government is concerned, possession and distribution of marijuana are prohibited under the Controlled Substances Act. 
  • Federal law trumps state law in cases where the two conflict. 
  • In 2014, Congress passed a measure that prohibits the Drug Enforcement Administration from using federal funds to impede state medical marijuana laws. However, this provision does not apply to decriminalization statutes. This means people possessing marijuana have no strict guarantee of immunity from federal prosecution regardless of state laws.
Author
Citizens Count Editor

"NH was right to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana."

  • Marijuana is no more harmful than alcohol, which is a regulated, legal substance. Its potential risks do not justify such strict punishments for use or possession. 
  • Decriminalization will free up law enforcement resources to tackle more serious crimes, such the state’s growing opioid problem. 
  • Stricter marijuana laws make it harder for those who are convicted to find employment and gain further education. This places a greater burden on public assistance programs. 
  • Decriminalization may reduce overcrowding in NH prisons. 
  • Marijuana laws may be enforced unfairly along racial lines. African Americans are far more likely to be arrested – and receive harsher penalties– for marijuana possession. New Hampshire’s decriminalization of the drug might help address this disparity.  
Author
Citizens Count Editor

"Marijuana should not be decriminalized in NH."

  • Decriminalization could increase usage of the drug, particularly among vulnerable youth populations. 
  • Marijuana is a dangerous drug that has been linked to depression, immune suppression, poor concentration, apathy, and reduced motivation.
  • Marijuana is a “gateway drug” that could lead to greater rates of abuse of more dangerous substances, such as cocaine and heroin. 
  • Marijuana is not taxable under decriminalization statutes. Only fully legalizing it would make the drug a potential revenue source.   
  • Decriminalizing marijuana instead of legalizing it does not address the more serious problems associated with the drug, such as the role it plays in funding gangs and criminal networks and the dangers of contaminated or adulterated cannabis.  

 

Comments

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Many people find the Libertarian stance on the legality of drugs off putting or ridiculous.

How could enacting such legislation possibly be beneficial to society?

First, we must think upon the current illegality of drugs. We have many people in prison; police officers seek out drug users on duty; prosecutors to convict them; food to feed drug abusers in jail; state appointed lawyers in some cases; gas for police vehicles pursuing abusers.

Everything listed above cost the state money. State money is tax payer money. This very literally means you. You the tax payer are paying cash out of your pocket to fund all of these things.

Now, we are running a 17.7 trillion dollar deficit. This deficit literally grows larger each passing minute.We are hemorrhaging money and we still find it necessary to finance a war on drugs?

The fact that so many people are in jail or being prosecuted or you have heard about in the news, is proof that the people in society who want to be on drugs are already on drugs. Even police officers admit they can not keep drugs out of the hands of drug users. If they could, they would. The war on drugs has failed, it has been failing for quite a long time. Just think of all the state money being used in vein to finance the things I mentioned above.

If we legalized drugs, we turn crippling expenditure into a money making enterprise overnight.

All the money previously used to keep drug abusers in prison, prosecute them, have police spend active duty time pursuing them is immediately freed up. Furthermore, the legalization of drugs increases state revenue through the money made by taxing the product.

I continue to argue that ending the war on drugs is actually very beneficial to the police force. With the money we have freed up and the increased tax revenue generated from sales, just think what the police could do with that new money. We could give raises to law enforcement officials. These people are paid to deal with the worst aspects of our society and have dedicated their lives to doing such. These people are not paid enough for the services they provide to society. We could also afford to hire more active duty policemen. We could upgrade cars and equipment. The options are endless, but that is the point.

 

The benefits would not be limited to the state and police, we must also consider the decreased traffic flow into our already overbooked court systems.

I am a Libertarian running for office in the state of New Hampshire. These are the real reasons why I believe legalizing drugs is beneficial and should not just be shrugged off as ridiculous.

Ernie

Although medical marijuana works wonders for cancer victims and others nobody with a shred of honesty believes that the real push is for anything other than recreational legalization.

Here in NH we have a fully functional system to administer legal, recreational marijuana production and distribution. It's called the State Liquor Commission. I do not understand how so many words have been spoken by so many officials and experts without anybody seriously proposing that NH become the leader in this enterprise to co-opt the drug underground just as we did when we cut off the Mafia's prime cash flow source when we started the first state lottery.

Sky

Marijuana: Ganjahk, Hemp, Cannibis, Tree of Life, Hard Herb, Sensimia, Mary Jane

THC gives a feeling of euphoria, and should not bee seen as a toxic chemical; There are real toxic chemicals in the world we don't think about that we intake through out skin and in the air we breathe that we don't think about: Pollution, Lead, Fluoride, and Second hand cigarette smoke; These toxic chemicals are said to end up in our liver (accounting for 80% of US population with Acne problems) and in our blood, that eventually ends up going to our brain, causing the Penal gland to calcify, said to be our spiritual antenna (explaining the Atheism in the youth) Where Marijuana is Beneficial in de-calcifying our Penal gland. 

Marijuana should have no age limit, as the Native American Herbalist claim, it's good for the whole family: The Father, the Mother, the Son, and the Daughter. A Pregnant woman may use it without fear of hurting her child, and should be used during the last months, and during delivery, as it helps contraptions. This special plant, opens up or mind, leveling us intellectually, increasing creativity, strengthens our nerves, and promotes a feeling of unity and love.

Marijuana is not a drug, it is an Herb, it is a tree that bears fruit with seed in it, with leaves that are for the healing of the nations, and flowers that are great for smoking or teas, and seeds that are more nutritional than meat.

Marijuana, the Healing Herb, has been used by Drug Addicts and has proven to be beneficial to overcome serious withdraws associated with Heroin, Cocaine, Pharmaceuticals, Cigarettes, Alcohol, and Coffee. Marijuana is known now to relieve pain; Heroin withdraws are described by some as screwdrivers being stabbed into your kneecaps constantly for a long period of time, sometime up to a month. Although I don't recommend using the Herb for insomnia, commonly associated with Heroin, Cigarettes, Alcohol, and Coffee withdrawals, I highly recommend Valerian root as the best cure for insomnia, along with passion flower, and chamomile. People have died from overdoses of these drugs (also from the withdraws) however, not one person has died from Marijuana overdose. 

The reason why it is commonly refereed to as Marijuana is only because the Prohibition was a part of the Border War with Mexico, being that Marijuana is the Spanish version of the name, and at the time racist government leaders used false propaganda to make the whites feel invaded by this "drug" used by the blacks. True enough there are higher incarcerations for Negro and Latin-Americans versus Caucasians, who often are given leanest convictions. 

The Truth is: Alcohol has ruined many people's lives, succumbing them to poverty due, the gateway drug, causing liver failure, drunk driving casualties, and murders. Marijuana should not be seen as "not as harmful as alcohol", but as the cure for such drugs, and other drugs found in the typical american life.

the ban will be lifted, and everyone is invited to take part in the tree of life.

hi, i think the state of colorado is an example nh should follow. i am not a professor or law enforcement, i am an example of someone that benefits from occasional marijuana use. i have had 2 head injuries and suffer from pain from the brain injuries. i know some people will look at me and say, oh thats a cop out. well, i offer you to drop the bull....  opinions that you learned in books and have compassion for people that actually struggle with more than normal issues, walk in my shoes man, then youll see. the reason i say to follow colorado example is they have a program that works. just think if you provide relief by use of dispensories, protect those dispensories, tax them heavily(like colorado) the state of nh wont have issues with tax shortfalls and roads bridges and schools not having the money to operate safely. i have always thought of the prohibition era as a period that wasnt fair to some people. personally alcohol isnt my thing, but to each his own. my opinion is mine only, i do not force my views on anyone, including you. i am not a burnout nor do i smoke all the time. i have never drink or drive, probably because i do not drink. i do not smoke and drive because its medication and makes me sleepy. dont look at all people the same, some of us know how things are, some do not. no matter how much some people are told not to do, you always have some that do and not care.(drinking or texting and driving) i know my limits, i am not dumb. i also know that if i smoke and drive i am not going to be arrest free. just because you say that smoking is bad or no to legalizing marijuana, what makes your opinion more important than mine? i am american just like you, i dont advertise my smoking, i dont do it around or in front of my kids, and ive never hit my wife. you drink if front of your kids, drive drunk and hit your wife. whos the bad guy???

sondra

The decriminalization of marijuana, a plant with many benefits for people and the Earth, would solve many issues. The decriminalization of medical marijuana allows for law enforcement to focus on bigger issues this state is now facing: heroin. This dangerous drug needs our full attention. Law Enforcement have their hands full with this epidemic. Our youth is falling into the trap of heroin abuse faster than we can attack the problem at its source. If more resources were made available, say the same resources used in prosecuting the use of small amounts of marijuana, we would be better equipped to fight the battle with heroin.
As for the Earth, it would be a step in the right direction. We would see the growth of hemp for its multiple uses, being considered seriously. Everything from textile to plastics would be made by hemp and save the Earth from further damage. We need to consider the "why" of prohibition. With marijuana's many benefits, it is a curiosity as to why it is criminal.

Daniel

My body is my temple.
If I want to eat "Tide pods" that is my prerogative.

If my neighbor has a "Tide pod" problem, I will (and have) personally extended myself to helping them find solutions which improve their well being.

Let us focus on the issue that lead people to abuse substances and help them heal.
When drug dealers can operate in plane sight there will be no need for the violence they cause.

paul

"Marijuana is a “gateway drug” that leads to greater rates of abuse of more dangerous substances, such as cocaine and heroin. "

Well that theory doesn't work because its already a schedule one drug so its impossible for marijuana to lead to something harder, your already doing one of the hardest drugs says the government. so can we stop with the gateway lies

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