New Hampshire has taken a preliminary step toward joining states that have legalized recreational marijuana.
The state’s House of Representatives approved a measure that would allow anyone 21 or older to carry one ounce of pot for recreational use. The bill also lets people grow up to six marijuana plants and taxes the drug at $30 an ounce.
The debate took two-and-a-half hours, but passed 170-162. The bill’s next step is to go through a tax committee before a final vote is taken, reports the Associated Press. It also needs to face the Senate for a vote.
Gov. Maggie Hassan told WMUR that she would veto the bill. Earlier this year, Hassan backed a bill allowing medical marijuana use in the state.
Fans of legalizing the drug said the vote was historic. Colorado and Washington recently legalized recreational pot, but through vote initiatives, not legislative bodies.
“The New Hampshire General Assembly’s actions today signal that politicians are finally beginning to acknowledge the will of their constituents.” stated Erik Altieri, communications director for NORML, a marijuana advocacy group, in a release.
