HB 1446 - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2753
05/09
HOUSE BILL 1446
SPONSORS: Rep. Tom Mannion, Hills. 1; Rep. Giasson, Hills. 29; Rep. Layon, Rock. 13; Rep. H. Howard, Straf. 4; Rep. Drew, Hills. 19; Rep. Tim Mannion, Hills. 1; Rep. Polozov, Merr. 10
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
-----------------------------------------------------------------
ANALYSIS
This bill provides that lawful participation in the state's therapeutic cannabis program shall not disqualify an individual exercising their constitutional right to purchase, possess, carry or transfer a firearm.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2753
05/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Statement of Purpose. The general court finds that:
I. The right to keep and bear arms is protected by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and article 2-a of the New Hampshire constitution.
II. Patients who lawfully participate in New Hampshire’s therapeutic cannabis program should not be forced to surrender their constitutional rights as a condition of accessing medical care.
III. The ability of qualifying patients to exercise their firearm rights is an integral component of the implementation of New Hampshire’s therapeutic cannabis program.
IV. State law shall not permit cooperation with federal enforcement actions that seek to disarm patients solely on the basis of their lawful participation in this program.
2 New Section; Therapeutic Use of Cannabis Protections; Right to Purchase, Possess, and Transfer Firearms. Amend RSA 126-X by inserting after section 2 the following new section:
126-X:2-a Firearm Rights of Qualifying Patients.
I. A qualifying patient, caregiver, or other person lawfully registered under this chapter shall not be denied the right to purchase, possess, carry, or transfer firearms and ammunition under New Hampshire law on the basis of their participation in the therapeutic cannabis program.
II. For purposes of this chapter, the right to keep and bear arms is deemed an essential and inseparable element of the implementation of the therapeutic cannabis program. Any federal action that criminalizes or burdens the exercise of firearm rights by qualifying patients shall be construed as an action preventing the state of New Hampshire from implementing its therapeutic cannabis law.
III. No state or local agency, employee, or law enforcement officer shall expend resources, cooperate with, or assist in the enforcement of federal prohibitions against the possession of firearms by qualifying patients acting in compliance with this chapter.
IV. The attorney general shall have authority to intervene, appear, or provide defense in any judicial proceeding where a qualifying patient faces federal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. section 922(g)(3) solely by virtue of their lawful participation in the therapeutic cannabis program.
3 Severability. If any provision of this act or its application is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are declared to be severable.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.