Medical Cannabis Could Be Coming to North Carolina
North Carolina will soon have another shot at legalizing medical cannabis. A proposed bill would legalize medical cannabis for qualifying patients in North Carolina. The bill is carefully worded to nullify federal prosecution that could potentially arrive in the future. House Bill 185, or The Medical Cannabis Act, was designed to last.
The bill was introduced by Representative Kelly Alexander (D-Charlotte) and 11 other co-sponsors including Representative Rodney Moore. “The reason why myself and Representative Alexander keep putting this bill forth is simply that some of our citizens need it,” Moore told the News & Observer. “So we’re going to keep pushing it.” Past attempts to legalize medical cannabis in North Carolina fizzled out.
Under HB-185, children under the age of 18 would be prohibited from using medical cannabis. Medical cannabis patients would allowed to designate a caregiver of their choice, as long as the caregiver is 21 years or older. Under HB-185 collectives would be called “medical cannabis centers” and be subject to a tax and regulator structure.
In the south, only Florida has legalized medical cannabis despite many other states that have done so. “The laws of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington permit the medical use and cultivation of cannabis. North Carolina joins in this effort for the health and welfare of its citizens . . . ” the bill reads. The bill adds that “States are not required to enforce federal law or prosecute people for engaging in activities prohibited by federal law. Therefore, compliance with this Article does not put the State of North Carolina in violation of federal law.”
One medical cannabis bill hearing in 2015 erupted in violence which prompted both Republicans and Democrats to vote unanimously against the bill. HB-185 has not been assigned to a committee. The bill must pass in committee before it can move forward to a full house vote.
