On Tuesday, North Carolina House members discussed a medical marijuana bill that was passed by the Senate. Advocates hope the proposal will be advanced to the House floor and to the Governor’s desk during this session.
Bill Rabon’s legislation passed the Senate in march, before it was transferred to the House. It has now been heard by the Health Committee which did not vote but took testimony. The bill would need to pass two more committees in order to reach the floor if it were to eventually move through the panel.
According to House Speaker Tim Moore , the chances are “better than ever” that this will happen in this session. Although medical cannabis reform in the past has been stalled, Moore said last month there was “a decent amount” of support for the issue within his caucus.
Moore said previously that the dynamics surrounding marijuana reform had changed with “a number of new members”. He added that more than 50% of his chamber supports medical cannabis, and that he “would not be surprised in the least if this bill moved.”
The bill allows patients with certain conditions, such as cancer or epilepsy and post-traumatic disorder (PTSD), to purchase and possess cannabis at licensed dispensaries.
Rabon revealed his personal experience of surviving cancer, and how he used cannabis as a treatment. He told them that his doctor had advised him to use cannabis before undergoing serious chemotherapy. He then went to his local police to inform them of his intention to break the laws to use the plant as therapy. The mail began to arrive with packages of marijuana.
He said that after working all day, he would return home and “take three puffs of pot, and my symptoms will disappear before you can blink an eye.” I would go back to bed until the morning, then get up at seven o’clock and repeat this process.
He said, “I did it until I finished my chemo.” “That’s why I’m still alive today…I know tens and thousands of people who could benefit as I did.”
In response to a member of the committee, Rabon stated that he was “very willing” and would reexamine this list to see if there are any conditions to remove based on the feedback received from the medical community.
The sponsor stated that the purpose of the bill was to allow medical cannabis use only by those who suffer from debilitating diseases. The recreational sale of cannabis remains illegal under the legislation.
Before taking comments from both supporters and opponents, several members asked questions to the senator and his administrative staff. The chairman stated that he expected the panel to “discuss this again” in a future meeting.
The key provisions of the Medical Cannabis legislation are:
Patients with “debilitating conditions” like cancer, epilepsy or HIV/AIDS would be allowed access to cannabis.
The revised law would allow smoking and vaping, but doctors must prescribe specific dosages and methods of delivery to patients. They would also need to evaluate the eligibility of patients for the program every year.
The bill allows for up to ten medical marijuana suppliers to control the cultivation and sales of cannabis. Each supplier may operate up to 8 dispensaries. This is double the previous dispensary limit.
The bill would establish a Compassionate Usage Advisory Board, which could include new medical conditions that qualify.
A Medical Cannabis Production Commission will be established to oversee licensing, ensure an adequate supply of marijuana for patients and to generate revenue to regulate the program.
The measure would also create a North Carolina Cannabis Research Program, which “would undertake objective, scientific research on the use of cannabis or cannabis infused products in medical treatment.”
Many advocates have pushed for specific equity provisions to be included in legalization legislation.
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In a section of the bill titled “Findings”, the legislator states its intention to “prioritize public health and safety when creating a system of cultivation, processing and selling medical cannabis.”
The General Assembly also requested that “the regulatory system created under this article be flexible and responsive to the rapid changes in the cannabis industry.”
In a poll conducted in February, it was found that North Carolinians were also ready to reform. Three out of four respondents said they supported the legalization of medical marijuana.
In his own words, Gov. Roy Cooper (D), who spoke in December, said that he believes a medical marijuana bill has an “opportunity to pass” in this session. He also reiterated support for decriminalizing cannabis possession in a broader sense, noting the racial disparities.
Cooper’s support for decriminalization has only been a recent development. In October he publicly backed this policy change, saying it was time to “end stigma.” He also announced that he had taken steps to independently grant relief to those with previous convictions.
Cooper stated that following President Joe Biden’s mass pardon in October, which included a call for action from governors, Cooper has directed state attorneys to review pardon authority for cannabis offenses.
Separately, the governor convened a North Carolina Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice had previously recommended decriminalizing cannabis. The panel’s report, chaired state Attorney General Josh Stein(D), included a recommendation that the state conduct a study to determine whether it should more widely legalize cannabis sales.
According to current law, possession of more than half an inch up to 1.5 ounces is a misdemeanor class 1, punishable by up to 45-days imprisonment and a fine of $200. In 2019, 3,422 charges were filed and 1,909 convictions were made. 70 percent of the people convicted in 2019 weren’t white.
A North Carolina House Committee approved a bill in this month that would create a grant program of $5 million to support research on the potential therapeutic benefits of psilocybin, MDMA. The board will oversee the project.
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The article North Carolina lawmakers take up Senate-passed medical marijuana legalization bill in committee first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
