A North Carolina bill to legalize medical marijuana, titled the Compassionate Care Act, gained three new sponsors today in the House of Representatives.
Representatives Mary Harrison, Zack Forde-Hawkins, and Nasif Majeed have joined Representative Aisha Dew, who filed the legislation earlier this week, bringing the total number of sponsors to four.
House Bill 1011 would establish a tightly regulated medical marijuana program overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services and a new Medical Cannabis Production Commission. The measure would allow patients with serious medical conditions—such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, PTSD, epilepsy, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and any illness requiring hospice care—to access marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation.
Patients would need to obtain a registry identification card and could designate up to two caregivers. Those under 18 would require parental consent and would not be allowed to smoke or vape marijuana.
The bill would authorize the Commission to issue up to 10 licenses for medical cannabis suppliers, each of whom could operate up to eight dispensaries statewide, including at least one in a rural Tier 1 county. All marijuana products would be tracked from cultivation to sale, and suppliers would pay a monthly fee equal to 10% of their gross revenue.
Public use of marijuana would remain prohibited, and smoking or vaping would be restricted near schools, churches, and public spaces. The legislation also outlines penalties for unauthorized distribution and possession beyond a 30-day supply.
The bill has been filed and is awaiting committee referral. If passed into law, North Carolina would become the 40th state to legalize medical marijuana.
