,"North Carolina is one of only 12 states without any form of legalized medical marijuana. The state has also been slow to embrace hemp and...","medical marijuana laws in North Carolina are restrictive and it is clear that a change is needed. The Compassionate Care Act of 2021 seeks to..."
The push to legalize medical marijuana in North Carolina is underway, again. Senate Bill 3, known as the Compassionate Care Act of 2021, seeks to create a medical marijuana program that would provide access to cannabis for patients with qualifying medical conditions. Advocates of the bill have been pushing for its passage since 2021, but with the legislative session ending Thursday, time is running out.
Lawmakers in many states have started pre-filing marijuana law reform bills. In North Carolina, Senate Bill 3, also known as the North Carolina Compassionate Care Act, seeks to create a medical marijuana program that would provide access to cannabis for patients with qualifying medical conditions. The legislation would legalize medical marijuana for patients with qualifying medical conditions as determined by their physicians and establish an independent governing board to oversee the program.
Senators Mujtaba Mohammed and Chris Lee—both Democrats—filed companion legislation Jan. 6 in the North Carolina House of Representatives. The bill would allow for the medical use of marijuana for those diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition and would create a system for the distribution of medical marijuana and regulating the use of marijuana for medical purposes.
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Lawmakers in North Carolina held a hearing on medical marijuana on Jan. 19. The hearing focused on the Compassionate Care Act, which seeks to legalize medical marijuana in the state. Witnesses included patients who suffer from debilitating medical conditions, medical experts, and advocates of the bill. The hearing was the first step in the process of passing the legislation, which could create a legal way for North Carolina residents to access medical cannabis.
Companion cross-border marijuana trade legislation is also advancing on both sides of the state. House Bill 873, the North Carolina medical marijuana Control Act, has been filed in the House and seeks to create a system to regulate the importation of medical marijuana products from other states. The bill would also create a system of taxation and licensing for medical marijuana businesses.
In all states where adult use is legal, there is also a medical marijuana program. These programs vary in scope, but all provide access to cannabis for those with qualifying medical conditions. Currently, states with medical marijuana programs include: Arizona; California; Colorado; Illinois; Maine; Massachusetts; Michigan; Nevada; New Hampshire; Oregon; Vermont; Washington; and Washington D.C. Kentucky; Tennessee; North Carolina; South Carolina; Georgia.
North Carolina is one of 12 states with no medical marijuana program. The legislative session ends Thursday, and the state's 2017 industrial hemp law is the only cannabis-related legislation that has been adopted. The Compassionate Care Act, proposed in 2021, would legalize medical marijuana for a limited scope of people with certain diagnosed medical conditions.
The bill would establish a medical marijuana program in North Carolina, including licensing of dispensaries and cultivation facilities. It would also create a registry of qualified patients and their designated caregivers, and allow for limited home cultivation. The bill would also establish regulations for the sale, possession, and distribution of marijuana.
The Compassionate Care Act would allow for the production and sale of medical marijuana products, including edibles, oils, tinctures, and various other forms. The bill would also establish a system for the registration of medical marijuana patients and their designated caregivers.
North Carolina is one of only 12 states without any form of legalized medical marijuana. The state has also been slow to embrace hemp and CBD products, which are legal in many other states. Advocates of the bill are hopeful that it will be passed before the legislative session ends, in order to provide relief to those suffering from debilitating medical conditions.
The Compassionate Care Act has the support of a number of advocacy groups, including the North Carolina medical Society, the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians, and the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network. If passed, the bill would provide relief for many patients suffering from debilitating medical conditions.
medical marijuana laws in North Carolina are restrictive and it is clear that a change is needed. The Compassionate Care Act of 2021 seeks to provide relief for patients in need, while also establishing a system to regulate the medical marijuana industry. Only time will tell if the bill will be passed before the legislative session ends.
