This bill, HB 53, amends RSA 126-X to allow qualifying patients and designated caregivers to cultivate cannabis for therapeutic purposes, expanding the definition of "cultivation location" to include sites controlled by these individuals, provided they meet specific requirements. New definitions for "immature cannabis plant" and "mature cannabis plant" are introduced, and designated caregivers are permitted to cultivate cannabis for one qualifying patient. The bill outlines legal protections for cultivators, ensuring they will not face arrest or penalties if they comply with the regulations. Key changes include limits on the amount of cannabis that can be cultivated, a requirement for reporting cultivation locations to the department, and the ability for caregivers to receive compensation capped at $500 per calendar year.

Additionally, the bill modifies confidentiality provisions related to qualifying patients and caregivers, allowing law enforcement access to information about cannabis possession or cultivation with a sworn affidavit affirming probable cause. It mandates that cultivation locations be reported by December 1, 2025, and sets limits on the number of seedlings that can be obtained from alternative treatment centers, capping it at 12 seedlings over a three-month period. The bill removes previous limitations on the number of seedlings an alternative treatment center can possess or cultivate and clarifies the quantities of cannabis that can be held by both the centers and individual patients. The act is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 126-X:1, 126-X:2, 126-X:3, 126-X:4, 126-X:5, 126-X:8, 126-X:6
As Amended by the House: 126-X:1, 126-X:2, 126-X:3, 126-X:4, 126-X:5, 126-X:8, 126-X:6