New Hampshire lawmakers have advanced a bill to allow medical marijuana dispensaries in the state to convert from from non-profit organizations to for-profit businesses.
After clearing an initial committee and then passing the full House of Representatives in March, the legislation from Rep. Wendy Thomas (D) returned to the House Finance Committee under rules for measures with fiscal implications. A subcommittee of that panel unanimously approved the proposal in a 9-0 vote on Thursday.
Rep. Carol McGuire (R) noted the near unanimity of support in the chamber as the legislation has moved through the process—with a fiscal note that showed a $13,000 cost estimate to implement the law that narrowly rose to the occasion of triggering a Finance Committee review.
“This is something that will let the alternative treatment centers operate more efficiently and, with any luck, will lower the cost to our medical cannabis users. So I’m in strong support,” she said.
Part of the motivation behind the legislation is the fact that medical marijuana dispensaries, called alternative treatment centers (ATCs) under New Hampshire law, don’t qualify for federal non-profit status. But in the state, they’re considered non-profit organizations, which has resulted in disproportionately increased operating costs.
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