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June 21. 2012 8:26PM
Governor vetoes medical marijuana bill due to various risks
CONCORD — Gov. John Lynch on Thursday vetoed a bill that would have allowed people to use marijuana for medical purposes.
In his veto message for Senate Bill 409, Lynch said he “cannot support establishing a system for the use of medical marijuana that poses risks to the patient, lacks adequate oversight and funding, and risks the proliferation of a serious drug.”
But Sen. James Forsythe, R-Strafford, said it seems “a real slap in the face for patients. ‘I care about you, but I’m not going to do anything for you.’ ”
Forsythe said “there’s probably a thousand patients that could benefit from this in New Hampshire. They’re some people dying of cancer asking for this.”
The House and Senate will try to override the veto on Wednesday.
Forsythe, the bill’s prime sponsor, said he believes he may be a vote or two short in the Senate but won’t know until the actual vote.
“There’s a lot of people, they’re not saying ‘no,’ but they’re thinking a lot more about it,” he said. “We’re educating them and we’ll see how it goes.”
Lynch said the number of potential marijuana cultivation sites is virtually unlimited and distribution couldn’t effectively be controlled, increasing the unlawful use of the drug. The bill also would allow minors to use marijuana for medical reasons, which Lynch said he was concerned would “downplay the perceived risk of use of this drug and will lead to increased adolescent use in New Hampshire.”
Forsythe said, “it seems like he’s grasping at straws trying to come up with a reason to veto it.”
Matt Simon, a legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project, which backs medical marijuana use, criticized the governor.
“Governor Lynch has chosen to bury his head in the sand on this issue, but ultimately it will be legislators who decide the fate of the patients, and they know their constituents will be watching.”
Mike Cousineau may be reached at mcousineau@unionleader.com.
In his veto message for Senate Bill 409, Lynch said he “cannot support establishing a system for the use of medical marijuana that poses risks to the patient, lacks adequate oversight and funding, and risks the proliferation of a serious drug.”
But Sen. James Forsythe, R-Strafford, said it seems “a real slap in the face for patients. ‘I care about you, but I’m not going to do anything for you.’ ”
Forsythe said “there’s probably a thousand patients that could benefit from this in New Hampshire. They’re some people dying of cancer asking for this.”
The House and Senate will try to override the veto on Wednesday.
Forsythe, the bill’s prime sponsor, said he believes he may be a vote or two short in the Senate but won’t know until the actual vote.
“There’s a lot of people, they’re not saying ‘no,’ but they’re thinking a lot more about it,” he said. “We’re educating them and we’ll see how it goes.”
Lynch said the number of potential marijuana cultivation sites is virtually unlimited and distribution couldn’t effectively be controlled, increasing the unlawful use of the drug. The bill also would allow minors to use marijuana for medical reasons, which Lynch said he was concerned would “downplay the perceived risk of use of this drug and will lead to increased adolescent use in New Hampshire.”
Forsythe said, “it seems like he’s grasping at straws trying to come up with a reason to veto it.”
Matt Simon, a legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project, which backs medical marijuana use, criticized the governor.
“Governor Lynch has chosen to bury his head in the sand on this issue, but ultimately it will be legislators who decide the fate of the patients, and they know their constituents will be watching.”
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Mike Cousineau may be reached at mcousineau@unionleader.com.