Bill Text: NH HB476 | 2015 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Amending the definition of "qualifying medical condition" in the therapeutic cannabis law.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2015-07-07 - Signed by the Governor on 7/6/2015; Chapter 195; Effective 9/4/2015 [HB476 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2015-HB476-Amended.html
HB 476-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
4Mar2015… 0308h
2015 SESSION
15-0073
04/01
HOUSE BILL 476-FN
AN ACT amending the definition of “qualifying medical condition” in the therapeutic cannabis law.
SPONSORS: Rep. Stephen Schmidt, Carr 6; Rep. MacKay, Merr 14; Rep. McMahon, Rock 7; Rep. B. French, Merr 6; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21
COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
This bill adds several medical conditions to the definition of “qualifying medical condition” for the purpose of the law governing the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
4Mar2015… 0308h
15-0073
04/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen
AN ACT amending the definition of “qualifying medical condition” in the therapeutic cannabis law.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Use of Cannabis for Therapeutic Purposes; Definitions. Amend RSA 126-X:1, IX(a) to read as follows:
(a) “Qualifying medical condition” means the presence of:
(1) Cancer, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, hepatitis C currently receiving antiviral treatment, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Crohn’s disease, agitation of Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic pancreatitis, spinal cord injury or disease, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, lupus, Parkinson’s disease, dementia associated with Alzheimer’s disease, or one or more injuries that significantly interferes with daily activities as documented by the patient’s provider; and
(2) A severely debilitating or terminal medical condition or its treatment that has produced at least one of the following: elevated intraocular pressure, cachexia, chemotherapy-induced anorexia, wasting syndrome, severe pain that has not responded to previously prescribed medication or surgical measures or for which other treatment options produced serious side effects, constant or severe nausea, moderate to severe vomiting, seizures, or severe, persistent muscle spasms.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBAO
15-0073
Amended 03/12/15
HB 476-FN FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT amending the definition of “qualifying medical condition” in the therapeutic cannabis law.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Departments of Health and Human Services and Safety, the Judicial Branch, and the New Hampshire Association of Counties state this bill, as amended by the House (Amendment #2015-0308h), will have an indeterminable impact on state revenue, and state and county expenditures in FY 2015 and each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on county and local revenue, or local expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Health and Human Services states this bill would add four medical conditions to the list of qualifying medical conditions that qualify a patient for receipt of a registration card to access therapeutic cannabis. The Department assumes this will result in a small, but indeterminable, cost as it will increase the number of requests for registration cards. The Department states, in accordance with RSA 126-X, the Therapeutic Cannabis Program must be entirely self-supporting and any additional cost will be offset by additional revenue as qualifying patients pay a fee to receive a registration card. The exact fiscal impact on state restricted revenue and expenditures is indeterminable at this time.
The Department of Safety expects state expenditures will increase by an indeterminable amount since the Department would perform additional background checks. In addition, the Department assumes the increase in patients and caregivers would increase expenditures related to abuse and diversion.
The Judicial Branch states the bill would expand the definition of qualifying medical condition in RSA 126-X:1,IX(a). The Branch indicates this bill could bring more cases under this new law, as well as potential savings attributable to fewer individuals being subject to arrest. The Branch indicates, while the medical marijuana law took effect on July 23, 2013, it is not yet operational. The Branch does not have information necessary to estimate the fiscal impact of this bill.
The New Hampshire Association of Counties states it is unable to determine the number of individuals who could be affected as a result of this bill and is not able to determine the fiscal impact. The Association states there will be no impact on county revenues.
The Departments of Justice and Corrections, the Judicial Council, and the New Hampshire Municipal Association state this bill will have no fiscal impact on their revenue or expenditures.
