Can New Hampshire Medical Marijuana Supporters in Senate Overcome Veto Threat?

Keep a close eye on New Hampshire later this month: It could become the 18th state in the nation to officially pass medical marijuana laws.

That would move the cannabis industry another step closer to getting half the country on board with medical marijuana. Once 25 states allow residents to possess and use cannabis for medical reasons, the federal government will face immense pressure to reconsider its stance on the drug – which could lead to a watershed moment for marijuana businesses.

But also keep your fingers crossed, as the drive to legalize MMJ in New Hampshire faces some daunting odds.

A bill calling for the the legalization of medical cannabis in the state recently cleared two major hurdles, winning approval from lawmakers in both the House and the Senate. Normally, this would be enough to put it on the fast track for approval. But the New Hampshire’s governor has said he will veto it (as he did in 2009), citing concerns with the way it’s written.

All is not lost, however. There’s enough support in the House to nix the veto. Now, the Senate needs to muster up enough support to do the same. The bill’s supporters need to convince two additional Republican senators to switch positions and vote in favor of the measure. If they’re successful, they can override the veto.

How difficult is the task at hand?

Pretty difficult, but not impossible. Most lawmakers opposed to the bill seem pretty entrenched. But MMJ supporters in the Senate have been able to get some of their peers to switch positions – including two this week alone – and several influential lawmakers are now on board.