Lawmakers have failed to act on house legislation to permit the limited use of medical marijuana.
House Bill 983 would have exempted patients engaging in the physicians-recommended use of cannabis to treat a chronic or terminal illness from criminal prosecution under state law. Qualifying patients would have needed to possess a tax stamp issued by the state department of Revenue, and would be allowed to possess no more than three ounces of cannabis at any one time.
The proposal did not permit patients to cultivate their own cannabis, nor did it establish a state-licensed supply source.
You can read the full text of the bill here.
According statewide polling, nearly 7 out of 10 residents favor allowing physicians to authorize cannabis therapy. FOX 46, a local news station in Charlotte, is writing a number of stories on how residents could benefit from medical cannabis access. You can find the first story in this series here.
Existing law proposing qualifying patients to possess cannabidiol-infused products (but providing no in-state supply source) has proven to be unworkable. Patients deserve the option to legally access a botanical product that is objectively safer than the litany of pharmaceutical drugs it could replace.
NORML would like to thank those of you who contacted your state lawmers in support of this legisation.
Additional information on this measure and other pending marijuana law reform proposals is available by contacting NORML of North Carolina.
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns
