New Hampshire legalized medical cannabis in 2013 through House Bill 573, establishing the Therapeutic Cannabis Program within the Department of Health and Human Services. The program operates a tightly regulated system with up to four non-profit Alternative Treatment Centers (ATCs) permitted, operating a total of seven retail locations across the state in Chichester, Conway, Dover, Lebanon, Merrimack, and Plymouth. Patient registrations have grown from approximately 2,000 in 2016 to an estimated 12,000 or more by 2026. New Hampshire remains the only New England state without legal recreational cannabis. The House passed HB 186 for adult-use legalization in 2026, but the Senate tabled it. In 2017, New Hampshire decriminalized possession of up to three-quarters of an ounce. Qualifying conditions include cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, PTSD, and moderate to severe vomiting.
Ask the Expert about New HampshireN.H. RSA §126-X (Use of Cannabis for Therapeutic Purposes Act, HB 573)
Therapeutic Cannabis Program, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services