State Audit Gives New Hampshire Therapeutic Cannabis Program a Failing Grade

The results of a June legislative performance audit show that, in 2018, the State of New Hampshire failed to issue identification cards within the statutory deadline of five days after approval on 98.4% of the applications for the Therapeutic Cannabis Program. On average, in 2018, identification cards were received within 14 days after approval of the application. The 2018 numbers are an improvement over 2017, when the State failed to provide any identification cards within five days of application approval. The average turnaround time in 2017 was more than 24 days after application approval.

The failure, since inception, to provide adequate staffing and funding for the Therapeutic Cannabis Program has led advocates to push for a home-grown option. The House and Senate passed HB 364 this spring, providing a home-grown option, but Governor Sununu vetoed the bill on August 2, 2019. The House will have an opportunity to override the veto on September 18, but the prospects for success are small.