Despite being overwhelmingly approved by the state’s Senate, a North Carolina bill to legalize medical marijuana is likely dead for this session, says House Speaker Tim Moore.
In March the North Carolina Senate voted 36 to 10 to pass a medical marijuana bill that was filed by Senator Bill Rabon along with a bipartisan coalition of 12 cosponsors. The “Compassionate Care Act” would allow patients with a “debilitating medical condition” such as cancer, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and post-traumatic stress disorder to possess and consume medical marijuana if they receive a recommendation from a licensed physician.
The law would require patients to renew their recommendation annually, and it would allow 10 medical marijuana suppliers to control the cultivation and sale of cannabis, with each allowed to operate up to eight dispensaries. A Compassionate Use Advisory Board would be established to consider adding new conditions that would qualify an individual to become a medical marijuana patient. The measure would also establish a Medical Cannabis Production Commission to regulate and oversee marijuana supplies.
According to House Speaker Moore, there’s not enough support among Republican state representatives for the proposal to be placed on the House floor.
“There’s just not the support for it right now, not enough support”, says Moore. “I just don’t see it happening this year.”
Despite the legislature’s inaction, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) is now accepting applications from all North Carolina residents who wish to purchase from their medical marijuana superstore. The tribe legalized medical marijuana on tribal land in 2021.
