North Carolina Senate Advances Medical Cannabis Legislation

LOS ANGELES- For the second consecutive year, the North Carolina Senate has approved language to legalize medical cannabis, the Associated Press reports. Despite the Senate’s approval, the bill’s future in the House remains uncertain, as last year’s similar effort failed to pass.

On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee appended the 35-page medical cannabis language to a bill initially focused on regulating the state’s hemp product market. Senators approved the bill on Thursday and are set to reconsider it on Monday before forwarding it to the House.

If enacted, the bill would allow patients with a “debilitating medical condition” to access the state-regulated medical cannabis program.

Republican state Sen. Danny Britt, ahead of Thursday’s vote, emphasized the necessity of the medical legalization language to “get out in front” of the anticipated federal rescheduling of cannabis, which is expected to acknowledge the plant’s medicinal potential at the federal level.

House Speaker Tim Moore (R) has expressed support for legalizing medical cannabis. However, he noted that the proposal is unlikely to be considered in the House due to insufficient support among House Republicans.

In a related development, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina recently opened the state’s first medical cannabis dispensary on tribal land. Additionally, the tribal council voted earlier this month to legalize adult-use cannabis sales.

The North Carolina Senate’s approval of medical cannabis legislation represents a significant step, but the proposal faces substantial hurdles in the House. As discussions continue, the future of medical cannabis legalization in the state remains uncertain.