SB624

April 29, 2026 Re: Urging an amendment to SB 624 — restricting access to certain hemp-derived products Dear Chair Roy, Vice Chair Rhodes, Clerk Murray, and honorable members of the House Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety: I am Karen O’Keefe, the director of state policies at the non-profit Marijuana Policy Project. We share legislators’ concerns about the current state of intoxicating hemp in New Hampshire. High-dose intoxicating hemp products are being sold without age gating and with packaging that mimics commercial candies. That needs to be addressed to protect youth and public health. That said, SB 624 goes too far. It deprives mature Granite Staters of beneficial natural products that improve their wellbeing and that are being embraced by Pres. Trump and his Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. While there are some bad actors in the intoxicating hemp space, there are also many companies producing full-spectrum CBD products to alleviate pain and other ailments and help with sleep. A cap of 0.4 milligrams of THC per container is too low. We urge you to amend SB 624 to avoid cutting off access to beneficial, full-spectrum CBD products that are currently federally legal and may well remain so. For context, as part of the “Big Beautiful Bill” that re-opened the federal government last fall, a rushed provision was included to cap total THC in hemp products at 0.4 milligrams of THC per container starting November 12, 2026. That cap may change soon. As part of his December 18, 2025, executive order on medical cannabis and cannabinoids, Pres. Trump directed staffers to work with Congress to revise it. On April 23, 2026, President Trump posted to Truth Social: "In December, I signed a very important Executive Order calling for Research and Innovation for Hemp-derived CBD — Something that has made a HUGE difference for so many people. In fact, ONE in FIVE adults used it in the past year, and many say it improved their chronic pain enormously. Our wonderful Dr. Mehmet Oz moved fast to follow the directive in the Executive Order, and launched a model for some Seniors earlier this month. But more must be done! I am calling on Congress to update the Law to ensure that Americans can continue to access the full-spectrum CBD products they have come to rely on, and that help them, while preserving Congress's intent to restrict the sale of products that pose Health risks. We must get this done RIGHT and FAST, especially for those who saw that CBD helps them. Plus, I am told it will also help our GREAT FARMERS, who we love, and will always be there for. Please get it done, and SOON. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP" Last week, White House staff — consistent with Trump’s executive order — reportedly provided amendment language to Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) to allow full-spectrum CBD products. Unfortunately, the text of those amendments is not publicly available. Also pursuant to the executive order, a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation pilot program launched earlier this month allowing Accountable Care Organizations and cancer oncology practices to provide hemp-derived cannabinoid products to patients. It would be a shame if New Hampshire prohibited cancer patients and other residents from receiving access to those products. We urge you to amend SB 624 to: — Change the limit for adults to 5 or 10 mg of THC per container instead of 0.4 milligrams. It could have a lower per serving cap of between 0.4 mg - 1 mg. —  Apply the THC cap only to non-topical products. There is no need to impose a lower cap than 0.3% THC (the current definition of hemp) on topical treatments for arthritis, eczema, burn scars, and other ailments. Alternatively, SB 624 could be amended to create an exception for federally legal hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Then, New Hampshire’s approach would mirror any changes that happen at the federal level. If SB 624 is not amended, starting January 1, 2027, tens of thousands of Granite Staters will be barred from accessing full-spectrum CBD products that are helping them — even if those products remain federally legal due to changes President Trump is advocating for. Thank you for your public service and consideration. Sincerely, Karen O’Keefe Director of State Policies Marijuana Policy Project 202-905-2012 Sources: * Pres. Trump's Executive Order: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/23/2025-23846/increasing-medical-marijuana-and-cannabidiol-research * Truth Social Post: https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116456354024090916 * Article on White House lobbying to allow full-spectrum products: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/white-house-weighs-in-on-hemp-legislation-as-gop-lawmaker-pushes-accelerated-thc-product-ban/ * Information on the new Medicare pilot initiative allowing full-spectrum products: https://www.newswire.com/news/howard-kessler-salutes-president-trump-on-expanding-access-to-22756096