NEW BILLS WOULD DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA, REDUCE SIZE OF N.H. HOUSE

With 400 members -- one of the largest legislatures in the world -- the
N.H. House is never at a loss for new legislation.

The coming session promises bills for solving the statewide education
funding crisis, less ambitious efforts aimed at saving elderly pet owners a
few bucks, and everything in between.

Some are plans of a grand scale that will be endlessly studied and debated.
Others are an effort to remedy a problem learned about in chats with a
neighbor over the backyard fence.

As of Nov. 30, there were 454 Legislative Service Requests submitted to the
N.H. General Court, by representatives and senators alike. These requests
are nothing more than the outline of an idea -- an initial effort by a
legislator to get a bill drafted, with the details to be fleshed out later.

With the deadline for these requests still a week away, a flurry of
last-minute activity is sure to drive up the total.

With an eye toward January and the last legislative session of the century,
The Sentinel surveyed local legislators to see what kind of legislation
they'll be supporting in Concord starting next month.

The N.H. Supreme Court's April 1 deadline to the Legislature for
overhauling how New Hampshire pays for public schools looms large, bumping
the issue to the top of the agenda. The Sentinel will look at local efforts
to tackle that monster later this week.

Also to come: a look at legislation concerning the Cheshire Bridge, the
state's only toll bridge, over the Connecticut River; and campaign-finance
reform efforts.

Meanwhile, here's an overview of some of the other legislation being
sponsored by representatives of the Monadnock Region:

- -- Medical marijuana and marijuana penalties. The nation is spending
billions of dollars filling its prisons with nonviolent drug offenders and
New Hampshire shouldn't contribute to the problem, says Rep. Timothy N.
Robertson, D-Keene.

Robertson is behind legislation to make possession of an ounce or less of
marijuana no more of an offense than a traffic ticket. He says repeat
offenders would still be punishable with criminal penalties.

Robertson lowered the maximum from the 1 [?] ounces that was in similar
legislation last session. "I hope to get a better hearing this time,"
Robertson said. "It's silly to prosecute someone because they have a
different lifestyle than I do."

Another piece of legislation sponsored by Robertson would allow qualified
patients or their caregivers to grow up to three marijuana plants for
personal use as medicine.

In the past, Robertson has sponsored legislation to legalize hemp
production in New Hampshire. Another effort will be spearheaded this year
by other representatives. Robertson said it was a strategic decision to
separate the hemp bill from marijuana-related proposals because hemp cannot
be used as a drug and the issues are not related, yet many lawmakers and
citizens confused the two issues.

Robertson concedes that getting support will be an uphill battle, but said,
"Every time, we convert a few people."

Checked-by: Richard Lake