SB 409-FN (2012): relative to the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

SB 409-FN (2012)

relative to the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

• Status: Vetoed, override failed
• Term: 2011-2012
• 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 February 15, 2012 and referred to the Senate Health and Human Services committee. The committee held a public hearing on March 8, 2012. The committee recommended that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2012-1416s). On March 28, 2012 the Senate adopted “Special Order to the afternoon session, Without Objection”. The committee recommended that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2012-1416s). The committee's amendment (1416s) was adopted on a voice vote on March 28, 2012, changing the text of the bill. A floor amendment (2012-1494s), offered by Sen. Forsythe, was adopted on a voice vote on March 28, 2012, changing the text of the bill. On March 28, 2012 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a roll call 13–11 and ordered it to a third reading. It crossed to the House on March 29, 2012 and was referred to the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs committee. The committee held a public hearing on April 10, 2012. The committee held a work session on April 17, 2012. The committee met in executive session on April 17, 2012 to vote on its recommendation. The committee held a work session on April 19, 2012. The committee met in executive session on April 19, 2012 to vote on its recommendation. The committee voted 12–4 to recommend that the House pass it with changes (amendment 1751h), and the report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (1751h) was adopted on a voice vote on April 25, 2012, changing the text of the bill. On April 25, 2012 the House voted to pass it with changes on a roll call 236–96. On April 25, 2012 the bill was referred to the Finance committee. The committee held a work session on May 8, 2012. The committee met in executive session on May 10, 2012 to vote on its recommendation. The committee voted 18–8 to recommend that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2143h), and the report was placed on the regular calendar. A floor amendment (2143) was adopted on a voice vote on May 16, 2012, changing the text of the bill. On May 16, 2012 the House voted to pass it with changes on a division vote 228–91. On May 23, 2012 the Senate adopted “Non-concur with House Amendment #1751h, #2143h; Requests C of C” on a division vote 14–6, on a motion by Sen. Bradley. On May 24, 2012 the House adopted “House Accedes to Senate Request for Committee of Conference (Rep Bettencourt)” on a voice vote. A committee of conference met on May 25, 2012, May 29, 2012 and May 30, 2012 to try to settle the differences between the two chambers' versions of the bill. The House adopted the conference report (2441c) on a voice vote. The Senate adopted the conference report (2441c) on a division vote 13–9. An enrolled bill amendment (2510e) was adopted on June 6, 2012. These correct technical errors found after passage. The bill was enrolled on June 6, 2012 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor — and an enrolled bill amendment (2012-2510e) was adopted to correct technical errors found after passage. The governor vetoed it on June 21, 2012. The legislature can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers. On June 27, 2012 the Senate voted 13–10 on overriding the governor's veto on a roll call, and the veto was sustained, failing to meet the two thirds threshold.

Sponsors

• Sen. James Forsythe (R - SD4) (prime sponsor)
• Sen. Raymond White (R - SD9)
• Sen. John Gallus (R - SD1)
• Rep. Evalyn Merrick (D - Coos 2)
• Rep. Jennifer Coffey (R - Merr 6)
• Rep. James MacKay (D - Merr 11)

Hearings and Sessions

• March 8, 2012, 2:00 PM: hearing, Senate Health and Human Services, SH 100
• April 10, 2012, 1:00 PM: public hearing, House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs, LOB 205
• April 17, 2012, 9:00 AM: subcommittee work session, House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs, LOB 205
• April 17, 2012, 10:00 AM: executive session, House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs, LOB 205
• April 19, 2012, 10:30 AM: subcommittee work session, House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs, LOB 205
• April 19, 2012, 11:00 AM: executive session, House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs, LOB 205
• May 8, 2012, 1:00 PM: work session, House Finance, LOB 209
• May 10, 2012, 9:00 AM: executive session, House Finance, LOB 210-211
• May 25, 2012, 3:00 PM: committee of conference, LOB 101
• May 29, 2012, 2:30 PM: committee of conference, LOB 102
• May 30, 2012, 12:30 PM: committee of conference, LOB 101

Votes

• March 28, 2012, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 13, nays 11, passed
• April 25, 2012, House: OTP/AM 1751H — yeas 236, nays 96, passed
• May 16, 2012, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2143 — yeas 228, nays 91, passed
• May 23, 2012, Senate: Non-concur with House Amendment #1751h, #2143h; Requests C of C — yeas 14, nays 6, passed
• May 24, 2012, House: House Accedes to Senate Request for Committee of Conference (Rep Bettencourt) — voice vote, passed
• June 6, 2012, House: Adopt Conference Committee Report — voice vote, passed
• June 6, 2012, Senate: Adopt Conference Committee Report — yeas 13, nays 9, passed
• June 27, 2012, Senate: Notwithstanding the Governor's veto shall the bill become law? — yeas 13, nays 10, failed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 6:12
• RSA 318-B:2
• RSA 318-B:26
• RSA 126-W:1
• RSA 126-W:7

From the General Court

• Bill status page
• Docket
• SC 9A
• SC 12
• HC 33
• HC 37
• HC 42
• SC 22
• This page’s data as JSON