Gov. Lynch vetoes medical marijuana bill
Dear MPP Supporter :
Earlier today, Gov. John Lynch (D) vetoed HB 648, the medical marijuana bill.
Although this is an incredibly disappointing, MPP and our allies in New Hampshire are not finished. We now have to work to override the veto when the legislature returns in September.
Please call you representatives and senator today and ask them if they will vote to override the veto — to give patients the protection they deserve.
Two-thirds of the House and Senate need to vote for the override. The votes thus far have been close to that, but not quite enough. The House passed the original bill with a 234-138 vote and the Senate passed it with a 14-10 vote.
Today is definitely a setback, but we have not been defeated. We will redouble our efforts to override the veto, like advocates in Rhode Island have been able to do in order to give their patients the protection they need and deserve.
We'd like to thank Matt Simon of the NH Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy and Bob Blaisdell and everyone at the Demers Group for their incredible lobbying work. The bill would not have made it this far without Matt and Bob's dedication.
We'd also like to thank all of the courageous New Hampshire patients who have spoke out publicly in support of this bill — Sandy Drew, Clayton Holton, Dennis Acton, Ellen McClung, Barbara Filleul, Scott Turner, and many others who testified at the legislative hearings and met with Gov. Lynch's staffers. They are the individuals who Gov. Lynch thinks should be criminals.
The sponsors and champions of this bill deserve a lot of credit as well. Without their tireless work, the bill would not have made it this far. Thank you to Reps. Evalyn Merrick, Roger Wells, Cindy Rosenwald, Trinka Russell, Tom Donovan, and James Pilliod, and Sens. Martha Fuller Clark and John Gallus. We'd also like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Joe McSherry, who testified in favor of the bill and met with Gov. Lynch; Dr. Mandy Gennaro; and all of the other medical professionals who have spoken out in favor of the bill.
And, of course, thank you to everyone receiving this. Your phone calls, e-mails, and faxes have helped move the bill this far. But we're not finished yet. New Hampshire's suffering patients will need your help when the bill goes back to the House and Senate for a vote on Gov. Lynch's veto. So, please call your legislators and ask your friends and family to do the same.
We will keep you posted to let you know how you can help as our efforts continue.
Thank you for your support of MPP and New Hampshire's seriously ill patients.
Sincerely,
Zane Hurst
Legislative Analyst
Marijuana Policy Project
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