On Thursday the New Hampshire Senate voted in favor of allowing medicinal marijuana in the Granite State.

The Senate version of the bill does not allow for home-grown medical marijuana.  Gov. Hassan requested that the Senate remove the home-growing provision due to concerns that law enforcement would have difficulty regulating individual marijuana growers.  However, some medicinal marijuana advocates argued strongly for home-growing as a more affordable and accessible option.

The bill now goes back to the New Hampshire House of Representatives.  Representatives can choose to accept the Senate version of the bill or forge a new compromise bill.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the debate over medical marijuana in New Hampshire.

CLICK HERE to read coverage from NHPR.

On Wednesday the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted 199-164 to kill a bill that would license a casino in the Granite State.

The full House vote followed a Committee vote 23-22 to kill the bill.

Revenue from a casino license figured heavily in Gov. Hassan's recommended budget, which increased funding for higher education and the mental health system.  Members of the Senate were also advocating for casino revenue to replace proposed cigarette and gas tax increases.

Opponents of expanded gambling argued that a casino would bring social costs, such as increased crime.  Some opponents also worried that casino stakeholders would have too much political influence.

Do you think the House made the right decision?  CLICK HERE to answer the question on our Facebook page.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the debate over expanded gambling in New Hampshire.

CLICK HERE to read coverage from WMUR.

This week New Hampshire Young Democrats President Theo Groh and New Hampshire College Republicans Chairman Jake Wagner wrote a joint letter asking state Senators to change the voter ID bill to expressly allow student ID at the polls. 

Under the current Senate version of the voter ID bill, student ID from the public University System of New Hampshire is accepted.  Private university ID is accepted at the discretion of the town moderator.

However, Groh and Wagner argue against the distinction between public and private student ID.

"The currently proposed amendment to New Hampshire voter ID has caused much concern among many young voters across the Granite State, as those attending a private college in New Hampshire would be unfairly treated differently than those who attend a public university," the young party leaders wrote.

Senators in favor of stricter voter ID requirements note that they are already compromising by allowing any student ID to be accepted at the polls. 

Co-signing the letter were Tara Sennick, chair of Saint Anselm College’s College Republicans and Jesse Imse, president of Saint Anselm’s Democrats.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the debates over student voting in New Hampshire.

CLICK HERE to read coverage from the Nashua Telegraph.

Do you know the candidates for the June 4 Special Election in Claremont?  CLICK HERE to see who is running for state Representative and learn where they stand on the issues.

Last week the Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on whether New Hampshire should expand Medicaid.

The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, gives states the option to expand Medicaid eligibility.  The federal government will reimburse states for 100% of the cost of expanded Medicaid through 2016.  Federal reimbursement will then decrease to 90% in 2020.

At the hearing last week Senate President Peter Bragdon (R-Milford) questioned if the federal government would live up to the promise of 100% reimbursement through 2016.

Department of Health and Human Services Associate Commissioner Katie Dunn responded that New Hampshire could go back to old Medicaid eligibility if the federal government does not provide reimbursement as promised.

Although the combined impact of Medicaid expansion on the state budget is difficult to calculate.  However, in January 2013 the Lewin Group, on behalf of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, estimated that the expansion would add $18 million in costs to the state budget, but add $2.8 billion to the state's economy.

The Medicaid expansion debate is part of the Senate budget debate, which will continue through the first week of June.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Obamacare in New Hampshire.

CLICK HERE to read coverage from the Union Leader.

Long time right-to-life activist and state Representative Kathleen Souza (R-Manchester) says she is writing legislation that would require licensing and inspections for health clinics that perform abortions.

Abortion clinics in New Hampshire like Planned Parenthood are considered physician offices, and therefore do not require special licensing and inspections.

"In New Hampshire, there is no such thing as an abortion clinic - the majority of abortions are done in doctors offices," wrote Kris Neilsen, communications director for the state Department of Health and Human Services.

"Nobody has oversight," said Souza, according to the Union Leader. "Right-to-life people have been trying to put in legislation for 20 years to require abortion clinic licensing and clinic inspections."

Souza's actions were prompted by the high-profile conviction of Dr. Kermit Gosnell for several gruesome, late-term abortions in Pennsylvania.

Jane Munson, former medical director of the Concord Feminist Health Center, said she and other pro-choice advocates wouldn't necessarily oppose greater oversight and licensure. 

"We have nothing to hide, and we know the quality of our services," Munson told the Union Leader.

However, Munson cautioned that new, strict regulations that force abortion clinics to close might force women to seek out the services of illegitimate doctors such as Gosnell.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the debates over abortion and family planning in New Hampshire.

CLICK HERE to read coverage from the Union Leader.