HB 648-FN (2009): relative to the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

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@misc{bill-2009-hb648, title = {HB 648-FN (2009): relative to the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.}, howpublished = {Granite Record}, url = {https://graniterecord.org/bill/2009/hb648}, note = {Accessed 24 Oct. 2026} }

HB 648-FN (2009)

relative to the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

  • Status: Vetoed, override failed
  • Term: 2009-2010
  • House committee: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
  • Senate committee: Health and Human Services
  • Subject: Public and Mental Health

The Story

It was introduced on January 8, 2009 and referred to the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs committee. The committee held a public hearing on March 9, 2009. The committee held work sessions on March 12, 2009 and March 18, 2009. The committee met in executive session on March 18, 2009 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it (amendment 0877h), and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 13–7. The committee's amendment (0877h) was adopted on a voice vote on March 25, 2009, changing the text of the bill. On March 25, 2009 the House voted to pass it with changes on a roll call 234–138. On March 25, 2009 the House failed “Reconsideration (Rep Eaton)” on a voice vote. It crossed to the Senate on April 8, 2009 and was referred to the Senate Health and Human Services committee. The committee held a public hearing on April 14, 2009. The committee recommended that the Senate pass it with changes. The committee's amendment (1404s) was adopted on a voice vote on April 29, 2009, changing the text of the bill. On April 29, 2009 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a roll call 14–10 and ordered it to a third reading. On May 6, 2009 the House adopted “House Non-Concurs w/Senate AM#1404s & Requests a Comm of Conf (Rep Rosenwald)” on a voice vote. On May 20, 2009 the Senate adopted “Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference” on a voice vote, on a motion by Sen. Sgambati. A committee of conference met on May 28, 2009, June 5, 2009 and June 11, 2009 to try to settle the differences between the two chambers' versions of the bill. The bill was enrolled on June 24, 2009 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor — and an enrolled bill amendment (2358) was adopted to correct technical errors found after passage. The governor vetoed it on July 10, 2009. The legislature can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers. On October 28, 2009 the House voted 240–115 to override the governor's veto on a roll call, meeting the two thirds threshold. On October 28, 2009 the Senate voted 14–10 on overriding the governor's veto on a roll call, and the veto was sustained, failing to meet the two thirds threshold.

Sponsors

Hearings and Sessions

  • March 9, 2009, 10:00 AM: public hearing, House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs, LOB 205-207
  • March 12, 2009, 2:00 PM: subcommittee work session, House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs, LOB 205
  • March 18, 2009, 8:00 AM: subcommittee work session, House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs, LOB 205-207
  • March 18, 2009, 9:30 AM: executive session, House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs, LOB 205
  • April 14, 2009, 9:00 AM: hearing, Senate Health and Human Services, LOB 201-203
  • May 28, 2009, 3:00 PM: committee of conference, LOB 205
  • June 5, 2009, 3:00 PM: committee of conference, LOB 205
  • June 11, 2009, 3:15 PM: committee of conference, LOB 205

Votes

  • March 25, 2009, House: OTP / AM 0877H — yeas 234, nays 138, passed
  • March 25, 2009, House: Reconsideration (Rep Eaton) — voice vote, failed
  • April 29, 2009, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 14, nays 10, passed
  • May 6, 2009, House: House Non-Concurs w/Senate AM#1404s & Requests a Comm of Conf (Rep Rosenwald) — voice vote, passed
  • May 20, 2009, Senate: Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — voice vote, passed
  • June 24, 2009, Senate: Conference Committee Report (2251) — yeas 14, nays 10, passed
  • June 24, 2009, House: COC REPORT 2251 — yeas 232, nays 108, passed
  • October 28, 2009, House: SHALL HB 648 BECOME LAW — yeas 240, nays 115, passed
  • October 28, 2009, Senate: Notwithstanding the Governor's veto, shall the bill become law? — yeas 14, nays 10, failed

The Docket

  • January 8, 2009: Introduced and Referred to Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
  • March 9, 2009: Public Hearing: 3/9/2009 10:00 AM LOB 205-207
  • March 12, 2009: Subcommittee Work Session: 3/12/2009 2:00 PM LOB 205
  • March 18, 2009: Subcommittee Work Session: 3/18/2009 8:00 AM LOB 205-207
  • March 18, 2009: Executive Session: 3/18/2009 9:30 AM LOB 205
  • March 18, 2009: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with AM #0877h for Mar 24 RC (vote 13-7)
  • March 18, 2009: Proposed Majority Committee Amendment #0877h
  • March 18, 2009: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
  • March 24, 2009: Special Ordered to Mar 25 Without Objection
  • March 25, 2009: Majority Committee Amendment #0877h Adopted, VV
  • March 25, 2009: Ought to Pass with Amendment #0877h: MA RC 234-138
  • March 25, 2009: Reconsideration (Rep Eaton): MF VV
  • April 8, 2009: Introduced and Referred to Health and Human Services
  • April 14, 2009: Hearing; April 14, 2009, Rooms 201-203, LOB, 9:00 a.m.; SC19
  • April 23, 2009: Committee Report; Ought to Pass with Amendment {1404s} [04/29/09]; SC21
  • April 29, 2009: Committee Amendment (1404s), AA, VV
  • April 29, 2009: Ought to Pass with Amendment (1404s), RC 14Y-10N, MA, OT3rdg
  • April 29, 2009: Passed by Third Reading Resolution
  • May 6, 2009: House Non-Concurs w/Senate AM#1404s & Requests a Comm of Conf (Rep Rosenwald): MA VV
  • May 6, 2009: Speaker Appoints: Reps Rosenwald, Bridgham, E.Merrick, and Welch
  • May 20, 2009: Sen. Sgambati Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV
  • May 20, 2009: President Appoints Senators Gilmour,Gallus and Fuller Clark
  • May 28, 2009: Committee of Conference Meeting: 5/28/2009 3:00 PM LOB 205
  • June 5, 2009: Committee of Conference Meeting: 6/5/2009 3:00 PM LOB 205
  • June 11, 2009: Committee of Conference Meeting: 6/11/2009 3:15 PM LOB 205
  • June 18, 2009: Conference Committee Report (2251); New Amendment, Filed
  • June 24, 2009: Conference Committee Report (2251); RC 14Y - 10N, Adopted
  • June 24, 2009: Conference Committee Report #2251 Adopted, RC 232-108
  • June 24, 2009: Enrolled Bill Amendment #2358 Adopted
  • June 24, 2009: Enrolled Bill Amendment #2358 Adopted
  • June 24, 2009: Enrolled
  • June 24, 2009: Enrolled
  • July 10, 2009: Vetoed by the Governor on 07/10/2009
  • October 28, 2009: Veto Overridden: RC 240-115
  • October 28, 2009: Notwithstanding the Governor’s veto, shall HB 648 become law: RC 14Y-10N veto sustained, lacking the necessary two-thirds vote

From the General Court