N.C. Judiciary Committee approves revisions to medical cannabis bill 

On August 18, 2021, the North Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee approved revisions to SB 711. Under the revised bill, sponsored by Sen. Bill Rabon (R), patients would be allowed to possess and consume medical cannabis for debilitating medical conditions. The revised bill adds patients with “terminal illnesses” who have six months to live, as well as those with conditions resulting in hospice care among those who would qualify for the state-regulated medical cannabis program.

The revised bill includes several other changes, including: amendments to the definition of "cannabis-infused products," new continuing education requirements for physicians, identification requirements for patients, limitations on areas where patients can smoke or vape, and adding more members to the nine-member Medical Cannabis Production Commission. You can check out an updated summary here.

Although the changes were approved by the committee, the bill still needs a full vote by the Judiciary Committee again, then it must clear the Health Care and Operations Committees in order to reach the floor for a vote in the Senate.

Support for cannabis reform has been building steady momentum throughout 2021. A poll conducted by Elon University in late January 2021 found that 54% of North Carolina residents support legalizing cannabis for use by adults, and 73% support making cannabis legal for medical use.  

In April, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Raleigh) acknowledged that, “public opinion is changing” on the issue and indicated that the legislature may be willing to consider medical cannabis legislation. 

In 2020, a task force convened by Gov. Roy Cooper (D) to study racial inequities in the criminal justice system recommended the state decriminalize marijuana possession. Under current law, possession remains a class 1 misdemeanor, subject to up to 45 days imprisonment and a $200 fine.

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