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WEBVTT RY MUCHLIKE IT'S ON ITS WAY TO BECOMINGLAW.>> TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGING,MR. PRESIDENT, TIMES ARECHANGING. REPORTER BY AN OVERWHELMING: BIPARTISAN MAJORITY, THE STATESENATE APPROVED A BILLDECRIMINALIZING THE POSSESSIONOF UP TO 3/4 OF AN OUNCE OFMARIJUANA.>> WE DON'T WANT TO SEE FIRSTTIME OFFENDERS, YOUNG KISOMETIMES, HAVE A LIFETIME WORTHOF CONSEQUENCES FOR ONE OR TWOMISTAKES. REPORTER THE LEGISLATION, WHICH: HAS TRADITIONALLY FAILED INTHE SENATE, WAS OPPOSED BY ASMALL GROUP OF REPUBLICANSENATORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.>> I'M DISAPPOINTED, AS ARE MYCOLLEAGUES, IN THE VOTE.REPORTER OPPONENTS SAY 3/4 OF AN: OUNCE IS AN ARBITRARY STANDARDAND ONE THAT WILL BE TOODIFFICULT FOR OFFICERS TOENFORCE.>> THE POLICE AREN'T GOING TOKNOW WHO TO STOP AND WHO TO LETGO, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE THEREWHEN SOME FAMILY IS WIPED OUT BYA STONED DRIVER WHO A POLICEOFFICER LET GO WITH A VIOLATIOREPORTER OTHERS ARGUE THAT: LIBERALIZING MARIJUANA LAWS INTHE FACE OF A DRUG CRISIS AND AWORKFORCE SHORTAGE WILL BE BADFOR BUSINESS.>> A WORKFORCE THAT CURRENTLY 3OUT OF 10 CAN'T PASS A DRUGTEST, RIGHT NOW.WHAT'S THIS BILL GOING TO DO TOTHAT? REPORTER BUT PRO-CANNABIS: ACTIVISTS HAVE AN ANSWER FORTHAT -- THEY'RE CELEBRATING THISVICTORY AND PLANNING TO PUSH FORFULL LEGALIZATION THAT WOULDOPEN UP WHAT THEY SAY COULD BE ABOOMING MARIJUANA ECONOMY.>> WE'RE STILL HOPING TO GET ASTUDY COMMISSION OUT OF THISSESSION THAT WILL TAKE A HARDLOOK AT HOW MARIJUANA MIGHT BEPRODUCED AND REGULATED AND SOLDIN THIS STATE, SHOULD NEWHAMPSHIRE CHOOSE TO MOVE FORWAON THAT PATH. THE BILL WILL HEAD BACK TO THEHOUSE, WHERE IT IS EXPECTED TOPASS WITHOUT ANY CHANGESTHE GOVERNOR PRAISED TODAY'SBILL AS COMMONSENSE MARIJUANAREFORM, AND SAYS HE LOOKSFORWARD TO SIGNING THE BILL.

Advertisement Updated: NH Senate votes to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, hashish Bill moves back to House for approval of change from one ounce to three-quarters Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The state Senate has joined the House in passing legislation to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. The bipartisan vote Thursday afternoon was 17-6. >> Download the FREE WMUR app The Senate version of the bill decriminalizes up to three-quarters of an ounce of marijuana and up to five grams of hashish. Before the bill moves to Gov. Chris Sununu for a likely signature into law, it must first be returned to the House, which passed a bill decriminalizing up to a full ounce of marijuana by a vote of 318-36 in March. Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, said the level of three-quarters of an ounce was a reasonable compromise, while Rep. Renny Cushing, D-Hampton, a leading House proponent of marijuana decriminalization, told WMUR he was confident the House will concur with the Senate version of the bill. Once the House concurs, the bill will then go to the governor. “I want to thank the legislature for passing common sense marijuana reform. I look forward to signing House Bill 640 into law," Sununu said after the vote. Bradley's amendment to lower the amount decriminalized from one ounce to three-quarters of an ounce passed, 18-5. The Senate then rejected amendments offered by Sen. Bill Gannon, R-Sandown, to reduce the threshold for decriminalization to one-half of an ounce, on a vote of 16-7. Under the bill, any person 18 years of age or older who is convicted of possessing up to three-quarters of an ounce of marijuana or five grams of hashish would be guilty only of a violation, punishable by a fine of $100 for the first or second offense, or up to $300 for any subsequent offense within a three-year period. A fourth offense would result in a Class B misdemeanor charge. Anyone younger than 18 who is convicted of less than the threshold amounts of marijuana or hashish would be subject to a delinquency petition. The bill specifically forbids police officers from arresting anyone for a marijuana possession violation. And it requires that all money collected from fines would be deposited in the state’s fund to pay for services to combat alcohol and substance abuse. The vote came a day after Vermont’s legislature became the first in the nation to approve legalizing marijuana. Maine and Massachusetts’ voters approved legalization in ballot measures. In New Hampshire, the House has voted numerous times in the past decade to decriminalize marijuana. But until Thursday, the Senate rejected it each time. “This is the result of a compromise between two sides of a compassionate debate,” said Sen. Harold French, R-Franklin. “The penalty balances the changing public view on marijuana with lingering concerns over abuse.” Sen. Martha Hennessy, D-Hanover, said that under current penalties, convictions can result in “collateral damage,” including offenders losing their jobs. “They can lose their kids, they can lose their homes, especially if they’re in publicly subsidized housing,” she said. She also said they can lose the right to vote and the ability to adopt children. “These are life-changing costs,” she said. Hennessy said it is a “myth” that using marijuana will lead to use of harder drugs. “In fact, the overwhelming majority of marijuana users never try other illicit substances,” she said. “Marijuana is in fact a safer alternative.” But Gannon said he stands with the nine police chiefs in his district in opposing decriminalization. “Marijuana decriminalization would be in direct contradiction to the wishes of those who are most directly involved in resolving our addiction epidemic,” he said. “They find marijuana, not for everyone but for a portion of those who use it, a gateway drug. “As a father of four, my greatest concern facing this legislation would be the potential consequences it could hold for our youth,” Gannon said. “This is obviously the wrong message to be sending to my children, the children of New Hampshire and the governor’s children.” He asked how police deal with drivers who are under the influence of marijuana. “There is no way, when we stop drivers who are going to be stoned, we don’t’ have a good blood test. The police aren’t going to know who to stop and who to let go. I don’t want to be there when some family is wiped out by a stoned driver who a police officer let go with a violation.” (Friday update:) Among the senators voting against decriminalization on Thursday was Senate President Chuck Morse. Although he did not speak during the floor debate, he issued a statement on Friday. "I am concerned by the passage of House Bill 640, decriminalizing up to three-quarters of an ounce of marijuana. I believe it sends mixed signals as a state in the middle of a very serious heroin crisis with nearly 500 deaths a year that we are working hard every day to reduce,” Morse said.“I continue to stand with law enforcement against decriminalization and will work to ensure the safety of our communities against drugs.” 'Common sense' measure or 'gateway' drug?Also during the debate on Thursday, Senate Democratic Leader Jeff Woodburn of Dalton said, “We need common sense to prevail. Times, they are a-changing. In our country, we are moving away from punitive prohibition.” Bradley said, “A lot of us have kids. A lot of parents know kids are what we used to be when we were kids. They try things. I don’t want my kids facing one strike and you’re out, potentially, because I’ve been there.” Sen. Bob Giuda, R-Warren, warned, however, “If you tell a lie long enough, you’ll believe it. Marijuana is a gateway drug.” He said it will hurt the state’s efforts to attract businesses. “We’re passing a bill to allow working-age people to not just smoke three times but get caught three times,” he said. “High-tech companies are not coming here because we have a workforce that is already seriously impaired, and now also we impair their ability to think because they can’t pass a drug test.” “What’s really being compromised here is the future of our kids, who universally will look at this as no big deal,” Giuda said.