Advertisement Marijuana debate heats up in NH House House votes on bill Wednesday Share Shares Copy Link Copy

New Hampshire’s House is considering legalizing one ounce of marijuana for people 21 and older.Click here to watch News 9's report.Rep. Adam Schroadter, R- Newmarket, said, "I think that it would help unravel some things that have been in place since the prohibition era both for alcohol and for marijuana."Schroadter said the proposed House bill to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana for recreational use would help align New Hampshire with other states which have enacted similar laws, most recently, Colorado.The New Hampshire House will consider the bill this week which would make it legal for people over the age of 21 to possess one ounce of marijuana.The bill also proposes regulating and taxing the drug at a rate of $30 per ounce when it is sold at retail.It also allows people to grow up to six marijuana plants in a controlled environment.Schroadter, said, "Passage of the bill that we are voting on this week goes a long way toward making sure people are getting what they are expecting and then with the taxation portion you're increasing revenue for the state."Retired Police Chief and former Representative John Tholl, says the drug will be difficult to regulate, and most likely will not bring in the tax money many are hoping for and providing no real benefit to the state.Tholl said, "I think its just a very serious thing. There's no real reason why we should be doing that kind of thing." He says another concern is an increase in criminal activity, as a result of the legalization of marijuana. “Marijuana tends to be a gateway drug. When people get tired of that, they don't get high enough they go on to something else."The House is set to vote on the bill Wednesday.