[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6377082,"mediaKeyId","2139549-b02edbbd28e2fe00604fdac668db0132","parentId",2139549,"title","Bill to waive therapeutic cannabis application fee for veterans draws split reaction over program funding","audioSeconds",474,"startMs",6711000,"endMs",7185000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2139549-b02edbbd28e2fe00604fdac668db0132&start=6711&end=7185","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2139549-b02edbbd28e2fe00604fdac668db0132/thumbnail_6711000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6377082/New-Hampshire/Bill-to-waive-therapeutic-cannabis-application-fee-for-veterans-draws-split-reaction-over-program-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6377082-0c8d7fda0c036040ccb4807034a45e25/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199805&Signature=BxKMp1OtjCAmj7rjA-d6ErgslmMMM1~2OAEfIkDaxvujmpX0GGcYPCXzSE8plt8pvt7cnxc9Rade3viEBml4RdRvsJhR4je5A7dWYv2oRJ7jGo-ZgyTdrbNlkecnG7ujLzePusRnPXAewXsv8yAdytFgqzq~kHU6daNn5F5GKsT~p5K3BjdxuWSP6U2XAZNbPblKxzpcfFNd7dlW9pnvgKDo9uushjJbgBi-fIsfxas4BCPqF5sCdVRAWIsPL0F1ug8KwCw~9yP3Fl7Mci8ctHjYmeMAldgTX59qJ3F-oQL7TsUMuObpjv8AYtT9dt3-sZZQuGcf4ILmPNQAuLrroA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","NH House of Representatives Committee \\","date","2025-01-22T00:00:00Z","article","CONCORD — House Bill 205, which would exempt veterans from the therapeutic cannabis program application fee, drew mixed testimony Wednesday as advocates urged lowered cost barriers for veterans while oversight bodies and some veterans’ organizations warned of fiscal effects on the self-funded program.

Sponsor Representative Heath Howard (Stratford) described the bill as a response to veterans’ limited access to certification through federal VA providers; because VA clinicians cannot certify patients for state cannabis programs, some veterans must pay out-of-pocket for community providers to obtain certification. Howard said his constituent paid significantly more than the standard $50 certification fee and framed the bill as a measure to reduce that burden.

Program funding and fiscal mechanics: DHHS administrator Michael Holt told the committee the department takes no position but estimated the fiscal effect: about 1,500 veterans are enrolled in the roughly 15,000-patient program (about 10 percent). At $50 per card and a three-year certification period, exempting veterans would reduce program revenue by roughly $75,000 over three years — about $25,000 annually. Because the therapeutic program is statutorily self-funded, Holt said the lost revenue would be recovered by billing ATCs (which could pass costs to other patients) unless the legislature or department otherwise changed fees or appropriations.

Divergent advisory board view: Jerry Knirk, chair of the Therapeutic Cannabis Medical Oversight Board, said the board struggled to reach a consensus. While the board recognizes the access barrier veterans face (VA providers will not certify), members were also concerned about the program’s financial health. Knirk said the board voted not to support HB 205 (vote 5–1, three abstentions), citing the bill’s potential to shift costs to other patients.

Veteran and stakeholder testimony: Kevin Grady, representing the State Veterans Advisory Committee, told the committee the advisory group opposed HB 205; he said the committee reviewed the bill and determined it did not target the subset of veterans most in need relative to other veteran support priorities. Individual veteran witnesses described personal financial burdens to secure community certification and supported fee relief for veterans on fixed incomes.

Safety and clinical concerns: SAM New Hampshire opposed the exemption and raised clinical questions about using cannabis for PTSD; the group cited peer-reviewed literature and questioned whether the state should be making the program more accessible to veterans pending further clinical evidence. The medical oversight board and DHHS emphasized the program does not currently receive general fund dollars and that fee changes would produce a cost-shift under the program’s funding rules.

Next steps: The public hearing closed without a committee vote recorded in the transcript. If the legislature exempts a class of patients from fees, the program’s statutory self-funding design makes fee and registration formulas the mechanism for balancing lost revenue absent an appropriation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs (01/22/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 205 would exempt veterans from the $50 therapeutic cannabis application fee; sponsors said it would reduce an access barrier for veterans who cannot be certified through the VA.","taxTitle","Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs, House of Representatives, Committees\t, Legislative, New Hampshire","taxId",17754,"location","New Hampshire","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6377087,"Committee hears HB 301 to let treatment centers add greenhouse cultivation locations",835,13056000,13891000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2139549-b02edbbd28e2fe00604fdac668db0132&start=13056&end=13891","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2139549-b02edbbd28e2fe00604fdac668db0132/thumbnail_13056000.jpg","/articles/6377087/New-Hampshire/Committee-hears-HB-301-to-let-treatment-centers-add-greenhouse-cultivation-locations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6377087-1962ef6c406356c31a054920ff07b932/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199805&Signature=Q2-WeeVvMFv9605HtmOHU4XfgtSN~gBGN740YA9~2rqZJLiuK4KIOlZjzIZfx9Q2gqUetsUdkIPH3x7hCZGCT2ShazGvDrA7xANFSjkZz~bHr-waeK-zdnf4Na7THSv8~DstIhPURmwvSYGft6XI8B3NzxDv6V3y4xpKk9IUr1qhYK7nW~MS0qAXY4cB2TBIMhIFJoPKi5QcQxd0TIcDYQgbgoA9zRwqZG6cpYhUrmyjsK-hKzRmnBhBxnDD0~p6fajbvBCZ84Ic0sSRfvi4h-jaWbuIt7tGHXtmgy6e9sALmcxrn5Bx14WSIfMqEEg-sjeWbBAIFg0f4GWttwpK~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","CONCORD — House Bill 301, a proposal to permit Alternative Treatment Centers (ATCs) to operate additional cultivation locations including greenhouses, was the subject of a public hearing before the House Committee on Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs.

Sponsor Representative Suzanne Vail (Nashua) said the bill would allow ATCs to grow cannabis in greenhouses — still in enclosed, locked structures and subject to local zoning and DHHS rules — so producers can use natural sunlight and reduce energy bills that are passed to patients. “Greenhouse cultivation is more economical,” Vail said, adding that greenhouse-grown plants sometimes produce different cannabinoid or terpene profiles.

Support and regulation: Department administrator Michael Holt said DHHS supports HB 301 because greenhouse cultivation can lower production costs and broaden product variety. He stressed the bill retains compliance with local zoning and the department’s security, inventory and transport rules. Jerry Knirk, chair of the Therapeutic Cannabis Medical Oversight Board, testified the board voted 8–0 (one abstention) to support the bill and noted greenhouses can reduce energy use and better match plants to sunlight spectra.

Industry perspective: ATC representatives said the statutory and regulatory framework already imposes rigorous security and inventory controls, including seed-to-sale tracking, fixed transport protocols and video surveillance; they argued greenhouse locations would be subject to the same requirements and would not reduce security.

Concerns raised: SAM New Hampshire opposed the bill, saying the statutory language is not specific enough about what “greenhouse” or “outdoor” cultivation means and warning that looser rules elsewhere have been associated with illegal grows. Major Bill Bright of the New Hampshire State Police said he was concerned about potential exploitation if entities outside the state sought cultivation locations here and recommended statutory language to limit exploitation.

What the bill would do: HB 301 permits additional cultivation locations (including greenhouses) for licensed ATCs, subject to local permitting and DHHS oversight. The bill stops short of authorizing open-field, unstructured outdoor grows; DHHS witnesses emphasized the bill would still require enclosed, locked structures and compliance with rules.

Next steps: The committee heard testimony from DHHS, ATCs, law enforcement and advocacy groups; no committee action appears in the transcript. If the bill advances, DHHS said it will review and, if needed, update rules for greenhouse-specific controls such as transport manifests and inventory procedures.

Ending note: Proponents framed the bill as an operational, cost-saving, patient-focused update; law enforcement and some advocacy groups urged clearer statutory language and attention to cross-border exploitation risks.","House Bill 301 would allow licensed alternative treatment centers to add cultivation locations such as greenhouses, subject to local zoning, DHHS oversight and existing security rules. Supporters say greenhouses lower production costs and diversify products; opponents flagged wording and potential for increased illicit cultivation if unchecked.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6377092,"House panel hears bill to let therapeutic cannabis patients cultivate limited home gardens",1794,3021000,4815000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2139549-b02edbbd28e2fe00604fdac668db0132&start=3021&end=4815","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2139549-b02edbbd28e2fe00604fdac668db0132/thumbnail_3021000.jpg","/articles/6377092/New-Hampshire/House-panel-hears-bill-to-let-therapeutic-cannabis-patients-cultivate-limited-home-gardens","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6377092-15105f49b58a3e7721f4e018063039b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199805&Signature=TKKQcsZfMBQ~ybE6UgwUiqz72TZQTvmTlbzO3VttP99ZK4zS9QrPzefkTl-BUa7nO2G93tqytmKkgJrTomWTny~ScsSMXzKK07kFzqDZGjUTrUXPBk0WNbhtDOCtqelAj1dXS7dTcUcrMalyl5KU5zBrUhRkkq63w~myX7GaSMh4~7PpQb0p-uKuovMGJI6tolWAJmRUkfkTKYpH4~ttfMAOC3binnGV4PNk4BLFHvAm5yZZVF5er9KKld4JNmE5dH2cA2wRcOhxtbu8v2Py9X6TCw4fK7sQ07aCDSXSDeEMPRwFGJBWA54uwnO8IfZuJgt5JE39CCm6AkhHP6RneQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","CONCORD — The House Committee on Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs took public testimony on House Bill 53, a proposal to allow qualifying therapeutic cannabis patients or designated caregivers to cultivate a limited number of cannabis plants at a patient’s residence under defined guardrails.

Sponsor Representative Wendy Thomas (Merrimack) said HB 53 responds to cost and access barriers in the state’s therapeutic cannabis program and would permit a registered patient to maintain up to three mature (flowering) plants, three immature (nonflowering) plants and 12 seedlings (six inches or less), provided plants are secured, not visible from private property and cultivation locations are registered with the state program.

Why supporters favor it: Testimony from the Therapeutic Cannabis Medical Oversight Board (TCMOB) and ATC representatives emphasized affordability and strain-specific needs. Former Representative and TCMOB Chair Jerry Knirk said the board voted unanimously to support HB 53 and described the program’s patient base, noting many patients are certified for chronic pain and sometimes require specific strains not carried by local ATCs.

Safeguards and enforcement: Department of Health and Human Services administrator Michael Holt said the department takes no position but listed bill safeguards: cultivation location must be at the patient’s residence, out of public view, in a locked and enclosed space; locations must be registered with the therapeutic cannabis program; either the patient or caregiver (not both) may cultivate; caregivers cultivating may do so for only one patient; and ATCs may sell seeds/seedlings and the state’s licensed independent lab may test patient-grown samples (testing is optional). Holt also summarized enforcement: the department can revoke cultivation privileges for violations and may share registered cultivation location information with local or state law enforcement upon receipt of a sworn affidavit.

Opposition and concerns: Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) New Hampshire opposed the bill at public hearing, citing federal hemp-marijuana definition issues, a perceived lack of enforcement bandwidth, and risks of diversion and illicit markets. SAM also noted concerns about including PTSD among qualifying conditions and cited academic studies that raise cautions about cannabis for PTSD. Law enforcement (New Hampshire State Police) warned about potential exploitation if other out-of-state entities sought cultivation locations in New Hampshire and urged clear statutory limits.

Patient testimony: Several registered patients and caregivers, including disabled veterans, said the measure would reduce costs and provide a practical option for patients who live far from dispensaries or cannot afford recurring purchases. Adam Mulholland, a disabled veteran and program participant, said home cultivation would help people on fixed incomes; he described how the program allowed him to reduce opioid use.

What the bill would do: HB 53 would permit home cultivation for qualifying patients or designated caregivers within numeric limits, require registration of the cultivation location with the therapeutic cannabis program, and preserve program penalties for diversion and noncompliance. The bill explicitly allows the department to share cultivation registration with law enforcement under affidavit standards.

Next steps: The public hearing closed with no committee vote recorded in the transcript. Department officials said they could implement the bill within existing budgets but highlighted the confidentiality of the program’s registry and the limited enforcement approach (search warrants would be required for home inspections unless statutory conditions for affidavit-sharing were met).","House Bill 53 would allow certified therapeutic cannabis patients or a designated caregiver to cultivate a small number of plants at the patient's residence (3 mature flowering, 3 immature, 12 seedlings). Supporters cited affordability, access and strain availability; opponents raised enforcement, diversion and PTSD-treatment concerns.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6377097,"N.H. committee hears bill to let medical dispensaries buy hemp-derived, nonintoxicating cannabinoids",785,434000,1219000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2139549-b02edbbd28e2fe00604fdac668db0132&start=434&end=1219","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2139549-b02edbbd28e2fe00604fdac668db0132/thumbnail_434000.jpg","/articles/6377097/New-Hampshire/NH-committee-hears-bill-to-let-medical-dispensaries-buy-hemp-derived-nonintoxicating-cannabinoids","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6377097-c6c1287ba7d5425b9195c06d13d06fa0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199805&Signature=o5x~cIU4KFL3OChfKkk4W54HaX4vyd6ZrmHjBqrRxZajxKIzGPHZEinIV56Isyggw6YgtTtii5FcTmFm~6toEBvqHkOTy0jMNtUoUyEpPg7UfA6SHQ-nNEbYcJDdYfiJ6VEcCojBl~t4Fagmxb950Kz5JlcmzdCJhzml7MyZtIOqARmrB4ptHaSri1BXEOzCTbecInyGGBiCh3VxPg-F6r7pnWcNZ8nCMCR9tqChiPtKtz7rQ0hbhhC~d7ZjSEyYfmkaWGuJVIemU7i~q1reAc7xYh-UhK5MtJesO2lOML6GjBMqMImKCGRRfIm46JAkELr0goLgvejpWuxGRmP6YA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","CONCORD — Lawmakers on the House Committee on Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs heard testimony on House Bill 51, which would allow New Hampshire licensed alternative treatment centers (ATCs) to purchase hemp-derived, nonintoxicating cannabinoids from third-party producers for use in therapeutic products, while requiring testing and a 0.3 percent THC cap.

The bill’s prime sponsor, Representative Wendy Thomas of Merrimack, told the committee HB 51 would let ATCs purchase commercially produced hemp oils and concentrates that are high in nonintoxicating cannabinoids such as CBD so dispensaries can make a wider range of therapeutic products and potentially reduce costs for patients. “Essentially, this bill would allow ATCs to buy 3rd party hemp products containing non intoxicating cannabinoids to use in their products,” Thomas said.

Why it matters: Supporters said some patients seek products that are higher in CBD and other nonintoxicating cannabinoids to manage chronic pain, anxiety or seizures, and that allowing third-party sourcing could reduce production costs and expand options without introducing intoxicating products. Former Representative Jerry Knirk, chair of the Therapeutic Cannabis Medical Oversight Board, described cannabis as a complex herb with many cannabinoids and said the board voted 7–0 to support HB 51.

Testing and safety: The Department of Health and Human Services’ therapeutic cannabis program administrator, Michael Holt, said the department supports the bill and that the measure requires externally sourced cannabinoids to be tested before entering an ATC and to have the finished products retested. “The bill requires all externally sourced cannabinoids to be tested before they're put into a product and those products tested afterwards, essentially double testing for this third party cannabinoids,” Holt said, and added the department can absorb necessary administrative work within its budget.

Industry practice: Operators also told the committee they already produce and sell CBD and ratio products but face higher costs when they grow CBD-rich strains indoors. Matt Simon of Granite Leaf Cannabis described current practice and testing: independent, state-licensed labs test material procured by ATCs and the ATC then uses the tested material to make finished products that are themselves tested prior to sale.

Federal-state legal questions: Opponents raised concerns about the federal-state definitions of hemp, marijuana and cannabis and the so-called “source rule” — whether material is legal based on whether it was produced from hemp or marijuana seedstock — and noted New Hampshire does not have a USDA-approved hemp plan. Sue Hamala of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) New Hampshire recommended aligning state definitions with federal law and developing a USDA plan before expanding sourcing.

What the bill would do: HB 51 would explicitly expand the statutory definition of cannabis used in the therapeutic program to include nonintoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids, require testing (including limits to keep THC at or below 0.3 percent), and authorize ATCs to incorporate these inputs into regulated therapeutic products.

Outlook and next steps: The public hearing closed after a number of stakeholders testified; no committee vote was recorded in the transcript. Supporters argue the change will broaden patient options and reduce costs; opponents urged clarifying federal-state legal alignment and safeguards in rule language.

Ending note: The department emphasized testing and regulatory oversight would remain central to any rollout of third-party hemp sourcing, while the Therapeutic Cannabis Medical Oversight Board has formally recommended support for the concept.","Lawmakers heard testimony on House Bill 51 to let Alternative Treatment Centers (ATCs) purchase hemp-derived nonintoxicating cannabinoids (for example CBD) from third parties, with testing and a 0.3% THC cap. Supporters say it could lower costs and expand therapeutic options; opponents raised federal-state legal questions.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6377077,"Panel hears bill to let New Hampshire therapeutic dispensaries convert from nonprofit to for-profit entities",1379,14865000,16244000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2139549-b02edbbd28e2fe00604fdac668db0132&start=14865&end=16244","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2139549-b02edbbd28e2fe00604fdac668db0132/thumbnail_14865000.jpg","/articles/6377077/New-Hampshire/Panel-hears-bill-to-let-New-Hampshire-therapeutic-dispensaries-convert-from-nonprofit-to-for-profit-entities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6377077-5fdb237511db622b91c111f1ce64f320/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199805&Signature=Yh9o40-HTQ6tlgypEWi41GQIfV3eTRc6-6N1thS6jAUJ0Tk5uDvDh62oGenAsrmntrxE6lYXO5oSf-75B5Az6HZVIQFnC9l3wvsxE4zH-7xB3QRQLe34agCywxPM38~w-VCGXz8pNtaAUSrqhdx3KAe01PUeC5ilSTug5Gy4SQnXRdQeeRFkMP-ZSjVoYgX3Y~BhleziiEDxd1bP10avs~jy7FAbxO4hMEUIdCfW1QJErj4KWgv39IymLtPhkV4f6re0C5D-CrhlRDGZmV-QDEolsziO5Dqdzxkhfuo7GwmKxeiHGqhhapdwC~HDauyVvUPVxG11VxpyM7aWKwvk8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","CONCORD — House Bill 54 would allow New Hampshire’s alternative treatment centers to convert from their current nonprofit organizational form to a for-profit corporation or limited liability company. The House Committee on Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs heard public testimony for and against the change.

Sponsor Representative Wendy Thomas (Merrimack) said converting to a for-profit structure would give ATCs broader financing options and allow businesses to access capital markets or private investment; supporters argue that lower capital costs would translate into lower patient prices. Thomas noted similar statutory nonprofit requirements were eliminated in neighboring states and that past bills on for-profit conversion passed both chambers but were vetoed by a prior governor (SB 145 in 2019 and SB 38 in 2022).

Industry and patient perspective: ATC representatives and operators testified they face financing constraints because nonprofit status prevents stock sales and limits collateralized lending; those limits raise the cost of capital and increase operating expenses that are passed to patients. Mike McLaughlin of Sanctuary ATC and Matt Simon of Granite Leaf Cannabis said conversion would allow more conventional business financing, which they said would lower prices and make operations more sustainable.

Opposition and caution: Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) New Hampshire opposed the legislation, arguing the nonprofit requirement was originally designed to limit commercial pressure and industry influence and to constrain profiteering. Opponents warned that for-profit entry could change incentives in ways that harm patient access and public health; they noted that ATCs currently do not receive typical nonprofit tax advantages because cannabis remains a federally illegal Schedule I substance.

Fiscal and competitive context: Supporters pointed out that many states that initially required nonprofits for medical cannabis later removed the requirement; proponents framed HB 54 as aligning New Hampshire with regional markets where for-profit cannabis firms operate at greater scale.

Next steps: The public hearing closed with varied testimony; no committee vote was recorded in the transcript. If enacted, the bill would prompt corporate conversions, require ATC board approvals for plans of conversion and likely trigger administrative and oversight work by DHHS to review conversion plans and any effects on pricing or access.","House Bill 54 would allow alternative treatment centers (ATCs) to convert from nonprofit structures into for-profit corporations or LLCs. Proponents say conversion would ease access to capital and lower prices; opponents warned it could open the door to profit-driven expansion and urged preserving nonprofit safeguards.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill to waive therapeutic cannabis application fee for veterans draws split reaction over program funding

Committee hears HB 301 to let treatment centers add greenhouse cultivation locations

House panel hears bill to let therapeutic cannabis patients cultivate limited home gardens

N.H. committee hears bill to let medical dispensaries buy hemp-derived, nonintoxicating cannabinoids

Panel hears bill to let New Hampshire therapeutic dispensaries convert from nonprofit to for-profit entities