New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R) last week vetoed legislation that would have allowed medical cannabis businesses in the state to operate a greenhouse cultivation location. According to the bill text, allowing businesses to operate a greenhouse at a different location than its current cultivation location would have helped the businesses “reduce energy costs and provide lower prices for registered qualifying patients.”
“I do not support expanding the cultivation of marijuana in our state. For this reason, I have vetoed SB 468.” — Ayotte, in her veto message
The legislation was a bipartisan effort that would have allowed dispensaries to operate a greenhouse directly, instead of relying on indoor cultivation agreements. Currently, there are only seven dispensaries in the state operated by one of four “alternative treatment centers.”
Lawmakers could still override the governor’s veto with a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate.
Ayotte opposes any expansion of the medical cannabis program in addition to adult-use legalization. In August, the governor told reporters that when it comes to medical cannabis and recent federal changes she would “have to comply with federal law” but added that the state “should not legalize marijuana in the future.”
