Medical marijuana legislation introduced in North Carolina
As expected, Rep. Kelly Alexander (D – Mecklenburg) has once again filed medical marijuana legislation in North Carolina! If passed, H.B. 84 (PDF) would protect North Carolinians who suffer from HIV/AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and other ailments from arrest and prosecution for using marijuana if their physicians recommend it. The legislation would also allow for the creation of medical marijuana centers where patients or their caregivers could purchase their medicine. If you live in North Carolina, it is important that you email your state legislators today and ask them to support this compassionate legislation.
In addition to emailing your lawmakers, consider joining other supporters for a medical marijuana lobby day at the capitol next Tuesday, February 12. Considering 58% of voters in the Tar Heel State support medical marijuana legislation, this will be a wonderful opportunity to present a show of support as well as to meet with your state representative and state senator. Please see the North Carolina Cannabis Patients Network for more details, and then ask your representative and senator to pass medical marijuana legislation.
2011-2012 also saw legislators consider, but not vote on, legislation to downgrade simple possession of marijuana to an infraction, instead of a misdemeanor. The bill, HB 324, sought to reduce penalties for possessing up to an ounce of marijuana from either a suspended sentence (for persons with no priors who possess under half an ounce of marijuana) or possible jail time to a civil fine of up to $100. State Reps. Kelly Alexander, Jr. (D – Mecklenburg) and Larry Hall (D – Durham) were the sponsors of HB 324.
Would you or someone you know benefit from medical marijuana?
If you are a medical professional, a patient who might benefit from medical marijuana, or if you know somebody who might benefit from medical marijuana, we would like to hear from you. Additionally, if you are a law enforcement official, a clergy member, or a member of the legal community, please email state@mpp.org to see how you can be of special help.
Learn more about North Carolina's marijuana laws
Did you know that over 25,000 people were arrested for marijuana possession in North Carolina in 2007 alone? 91% of all marijuana arrests in North Carolina were for simple possession. If you believe that North Carolina’s law-enforcement dollars could be better spent going after real criminals, write your legislators a letter urging them to support legislation reducing marijuana possession penalties. To learn more about marijuana laws in North Carolina, take a look at this report by economist Jon Gettman, Ph.D.
Write a letter to the editor in support of medical marijuana
If you are interested in composing a powerful 150- to 200-word letter to the editor, we'd be glad to help. Please send MPP an email at state@mpp.org, along with a short description of why you support medical marijuana laws.
Sign up now to stay up-to-date on North Carolina marijuana policy
To stay updated on the status of marijuana policy reform in North Carolina, be sure to subscribe to MPP's free legislative alert service, if you haven't done so already.
