HB186 Relative to the legalization and regulation of cannabis and making appropriations therefor.
Relative to the legalization and regulation of cannabis and making appropriations therefor.
Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?
Overall Impact Score
Mixed
Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)
Your Wallet
Generates new tax revenue for state programs while creating a legal market that may reduce consumer spending on illicit cannabis, though the bill does not specify tax rates or household cost impacts.
Your Community
Dedicates cannabis tax revenue to substance misuse education, prevention, treatment, and recovery programs administered by DHHS and the Governor's Commission on Alcohol and Other Drugs, with biennial reporting requirements.
Your Freedom
Expands individual liberty for adults 21+ to possess and use cannabis legally while maintaining protections against sales to minors, impaired driving, and undisclosed products through testing and labeling requirements.
Status
Pending Motion Inexpedient to Legislate; 03/05/2026; Senate Journal 5
Voted Yes
15 R
Voted No
1 R + 8 D
Sponsor
Jared Sullivan (D)
The Short Version
This bill legalizes cannabis for adults 21+ in New Hampshire, similar to alcohol regulation, and establishes a licensing system for cannabis businesses. It dedicates tax revenue to substance misuse prevention, treatment, and recovery programs.
Who's Behind This Bill?
Who Benefits
- ▲ Adults 21+ seeking legal cannabis access without criminal risk
- ▲ Cannabis businesses (cultivation, retail, manufacturing, testing, transportation) gaining a legal regulated market
- ▲ Substance misuse prevention and treatment programs receiving dedicated revenue
- ▲ Law enforcement potentially redirecting resources from cannabis enforcement to violent and property crimes
- ▲ State budget through cannabis taxation and licensing fees
Who Pays the Price
- ▼ Potential increase in cannabis use and associated health/social costs not fully addressed in the bill
- ▼ Regulatory compliance costs for businesses, which may be passed to consumers
- ▼ Communities that may experience increases in cannabis-related public health or safety issues
- ▼ Individuals convicted of prior cannabis offenses (bill does not address prior conviction relief)
Roll Call Detail (1 vote)
Every recorded floor vote on this bill, with each legislator's individual vote. Click a name to see that rep's full record.
YES = Yes. NO = No.
Show all 24 individual votes
Voted Yea (15)
Voted Nay (9)
Bill statuses as of October 7, 2026. Check LegiScan or NH General Court for the latest.
This bill was auto-scored using AI analysis of the bill text and legislative data. Scores may be refined as we review more bills.