HB461: adding qualifying medical conditions to the therapeutic use of cannabis law.

HB 461-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

8Jan2020... 2754h

2019 SESSION

19-0404

01/04

HOUSE BILL 461-FN

AN ACT adding qualifying medical conditions to the therapeutic use of cannabis law.

SPONSORS: Rep. W. Thomas, Hills. 21; Rep. Stack, Hills. 21; Rep. Murphy, Hills. 21

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill adds moderate to severe insomnia to the definition of "qualifying medical condition" for the purposes of the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes law.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

8Jan2020... 2754h 19-0404

01/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen

AN ACT adding qualifying medical conditions to the therapeutic use of cannabis law.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Use of Cannabis for Therapeutic Purposes; Definitions. Amend RSA 126-X:1, IX(a)(2) to read as follows:

(2) A severely debilitating or terminal medical condition or its treatment that has produced at least one of the following: elevated intraocular pressure, cachexia, chemotherapy-induced anorexia, wasting syndrome, agitation of Alzheimer's disease, severe pain that has not responded to previously prescribed medication or surgical measures or for which other treatment options produced serious side effects, constant or severe nausea, moderate to severe vomiting, seizures, [or] severe, persistent muscle spasms, or moderate to severe insomnia; or

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 30 days after its passage.

LBAO

19-0404

1/7/19

HB 461-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT adding qualifying medical conditions to the therapeutic use of cannabis law.

FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2020

FY 2021

FY 2022

FY 2023

Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

Revenue

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Expenditures

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Funding Source:

[ ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ X ] Other - Registry Identification Card and Certificate Fund

METHODOLOGY:

This bill amends RSA 126-X:1,IX(a)(2) by adding moderate to severe insomnia, moderate to severe anxiety, and Lyme disease, including post-Lyme disease syndrome, to qualifying medical conditions for use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes. Previous legislation added chronic pain, severe pain, and post-traumatic stress disorder to qualifying medical conditions. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, this resulted in an increase in program patients in SFY 2018 from approximately 3,500 to 6,500 without additional staffing to process applications. The Department assumes 2,750 of the patients were a result of the additional qualifying medical conditions. The Department anticipates the additional qualifying medical conditions within this bill would similarly increase program applications and increase staffing needs, and assumes a Program Assistant II position would be necessary in order to approve or deny applications within 15 days as required under RSA 126-X:4, III.

The Therapeutic Cannabis Program is self-funded through annual registration fees, currently set at $50 per application. A Program Assistant II position at Grade 15 would result in expenditures for salary and benefits of $60,000 in SFY 2020, $63,000 in SFY 2021, $66,000 in SFY 2022, and $69,000 SFY 2023 with an additional $6,000 required in SFY 2020 for equipment, telecommunications, and current expenses. The Department assumes applications would increase, allowing annual registration fees to remain at $50, producing sufficient revenue to self-fund a new position.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Health and Human Services