North Carolina Medical Cannabis Legalization Bill Faces Republican Opposition

LOS ANGELES– Efforts to legalize medical cannabis in North Carolina have hit a roadblock, as the bill that gained bipartisan support in the state Senate earlier this year has been deemed unlikely to pass in the lower chamber, confirmed Speaker Tim Moore of the state House of Representatives this week.

Speaker Moore cited significant opposition within the House GOP as the main obstacle preventing the bill’s advancement. He explained that the House Republicans have a rule requiring a majority of the caucus to support a bill for it to be brought to a floor vote, even if the bill could potentially proceed without full Republican backing.

Complying with this rule would necessitate a considerable number of House members who have firmly opposed the bill to reverse their stance and express support, a scenario Moore deemed highly improbable. “I just don’t see that happening,” he stated.

Representative John Bell, another GOP lawmaker, acknowledged the divisive nature of the issue among Republicans. He highlighted the presence of both staunch supporters and ardent opponents within the party, further contributing to the political impasse.

The prolonged stalemate has drawn criticism from various stakeholders in North Carolina who are eager to witness the establishment of a functioning medical cannabis market, including military veterans. These stakeholders argue that medical cannabis holds significant potential to improve the lives of many individuals within the state, as reported by WETC 6 News.

Senator Bill Rabon, a Republican lawmaker who sponsored the medical cannabis bill, testified in May about the beneficial effects of cannabis during his own battle with cancer. Rabon expressed his belief that tens of thousands of people in the state could benefit similarly if medical cannabis were legalized.

In a separate attempt to advance the cause, Rabon is now seeking to add an amendment for medical cannabis legalization to a health care bill that successfully passed the state House earlier this year. However, the outcome of this maneuver remains uncertain, leaving the future of medical cannabis legalization in North Carolina in doubt.