Raleigh, N.C. — Although legalizing medical marijuana in North Carolina has plenty of popular support, industry groups also are working behind the scenes to move a bill forward in the General Assembly.
The Senate Finance committee is scheduled to hold a Wednesday hearing on Senate Bill 711, the NC Compassionate Care Act, which would allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana to treat a number of conditions, including cancer, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Veterans and family and friends of cancer patients have testified in previous legislative hearings about how marijuana was the best treatment for the pain and anxiety brought on by the various ailments. Recent polls have showed 70 percent of North Carolina residents back legalizing medical marijuana in the state.
But industry groups see more green in the effort than just the cannabis – the market in Florida, for example, topped more than $1 billion last year – and they’ve hired at least six high-powered lobbyists to persuade lawmakers to vote for the bill.
Senate Bill 711 would create a regulatory structure for medical marijuana, allowing only 10 “seed-to-sale” providers that would grow, package and distribute the cannabis. Each of them could operate up to four dispensaries across the state.
The limits written into the bill will likely create a fierce…
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Raleigh, N.C. — Although legalizing medical marijuana in North Carolina has plenty of popular support, industry groups also are working behind the scenes to move a bill forward in the General Assembly.
The Senate Finance committee is scheduled to hold a Wednesday hearing on Senate Bill 711, the NC Compassionate Care Act, which would allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana to treat a number of conditions, including cancer, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Veterans and family and friends of cancer patients have testified in previous legislative hearings about how marijuana was the best treatment for the pain and anxiety brought on by the various ailments. Recent polls have showed 70 percent of North Carolina residents back legalizing medical marijuana in the state.
But industry groups see more green in the effort than just the cannabis – the market in Florida, for example, topped more than $1 billion last year – and they’ve hired at least six high-powered lobbyists to persuade lawmakers to vote for the bill.
Senate Bill 711 would create a regulatory structure for medical marijuana, allowing only 10 “seed-to-sale” providers that would grow, package and distribute the cannabis. Each of them could operate up to four dispensaries across the state.
The limits written into the bill will likely create a fierce…
