• 2010-04-18: Nashua, NH Police launch round-up of free staters
• 2010-04-20: Pot protest held outside NH Statehouse
• 2010-04-21: Marijuana rally unencumbered: Police steer clear of smoking crowd
• 2010-04-21: Pot protesters smoke, speak

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“Would you smoke a bowl for freedom?”

After years spent engaging the political process, fighting not just for legalization but simply for decriminalization and medical marijuana, it should be apparent to all that the politicians of New Hampshire have no intention of listening to reason.

Instead, we must demonstrate to all that we will not be intimidated by their words on paper. As peaceful people we refuse to submit to their violent rule of law. As Penn Jillette said, “Fighting for freedom is a losing battle. Taking liberty is what real Americans do.”

Let us take our liberty. Join us on the lawn of the State Capitol building as we celebrate our rights as free people! Bring some friends, some bud, and a revolutionary spirit.

Invite your friends to our Facebook event!

Date: Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Time: 4:20 PM
Place: State House lawn (107 N. Main St., Concord)

The Senate Judiciary Committee has voted 5–0 to recommend rejection of HB1653, this year’s attempt at marijuana decriminalization. Committee members claimed that since the Governor is threatening a veto anyway, there’d be no point in passing the bill. The bill is yet to be voted on by the full Senate, but with a unanimous recommendation from the committee, it’s unlikely that the bill will be anything but killed. The bill had previously passed the House with a 214–137 vote. The Eagle-Tribune has the full story.

This vote comes a mere six days before the planned 420 at 4:20 on 4/20 rally on the State House lawn.

CONCORD — A New Hampshire legislative committee considering a “tax-and-regulate” scheme for marijuana came within two votes this Wednesday of recommending passage of the bill to the full N.H. House of Representatives. After the vote failed 8–10, the committee then voted overwhelmingly, 16–2, to send the bill to interim study—not killing the bill, but holding onto it for further analysis.

This result stunned many supporters of the bill, who initially thought the bill would have no chance of passage and saw the bill merely as a trial balloon this time around.

HB1652, sponsored by Rep. Calvin Pratt of Goffstown (R–Hillsborough 7) is a bill that would legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana instead of outright prohibiting it, similar to the scheme proposed by Assembly Bill 390 in California. The full title of the bill is “An act allowing purchase and use of marijuana by adults, regulating the purchase and use of marijuana, and imposing taxes on the wholesale and retail sale of marijuana.”

Current penalties for simply possession of marijuana start at $420 for the first offense and rise to $600 on subsequent offenses. Distribution is a felony. This bill would establish a tax rate of $45 per ounce for wholesalers and a 19% tax for consumers. Licensed distributors and wholesalers would pay a yearly $1,000 license fee, comparable to the current liquor licensing régime.