North Carolina: Second Senate Committee recommends the Medical Marijuana Bill

BY: Chronic Staff | Recent News | published August 18, 2021

A North Carolina Senate bill cleared the second of four committee steps. This bill will permit the use of medical marijuana for the first time in North Carolina.

NC Compassionate Care Act, the bipartisan Senate Bill 711, is the latest in a 12-year trial to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes.

This bill is required to be clear from the Health Care and Rules and Operations committees prior to a potential Senate floor vote.

Most political analysts say that the Health Care committee could be the most challenging of the four steps. The way to the state House could be equally daunting as per political analysts.

The initial discussion in finance was on licensing fees and potential annual revenue projections. Bill sponsors indicated that they and legislative staff continue to be reviewed.

But the bill's chances improved with Sen. Bill Rabon, R-Brunswick, chairman of Rules and Operations Committee, as one of its three primary sponsors, along with Sens. Paul Lowe, D-Forsyth, and Michael Lee, R-New Hanover.

The funding can come mostly from license fees and a monthly fee of equal to 10% of the gross revenue derived from the products sold. Once there are projections on how many people have conditions that are specified in the bill, then they can determine costs and revenue.

As a primary reason for legalization, the bill says “modern medical research has found that cannabis and cannabinoid compounds are effective at alleviating pain, nausea and other symptoms associated with several debilitating medical conditions.”