Statewide medical cannabis stalls; Passed GOP Senate with help of Western NC legislators

A move to legalize medical marijuana statewide has failed, despite bipartisan backing of state senators, including a Republican representing Buncombe County who had previously voted no.

The GOP-majority Senate voted 36-10 in late June to allow cannabis for medical uses. But the N.C. House of Representatives did not take up the bill. Now with the General Assembly adjourning and legislators coming home from Raleigh, it appears dead.

The measure will likely come up again, though, as its support appears to be growing. One example was a yes vote by Republican Sen. Warren Daniel, who is seeking reelection to the newly redrawn 46th District covering eastern, northern and western Buncombe, plus all of McDowell and Burke counties. Daniel, a Morganton attorney, voted against medical legalization last year. The Citizen Times reached out to Daniel June 28.

His Democratic opponent John Ager, a farmer and former state House member from Fairview, said he supports medical uses.

"I have had a lot of constituents reach out to me about how they and their family members have benefitted, mostly along with pain management improvement," he said.

Ager said he would like to amend any legislation to allow local farmers to benefit.

Democratic Sen. Julie Mayfield, who is seeking reelection to the south central Buncombe 49th District also voted yes. In 2023, Mayfield, who lives in Asheville, was one of the seven sponsors for the Marijuana Justice and Reinvestment Act. The bill — which calls for the legalization and regulation of a North Carolina cannabis market — has been submitted to the General Assembly twice, but has seen little traction. Federally, the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden has moved to lessen the severity of criminal punishment for cannabis.

The Citizen Times reached out to the 49th District Republican candidate Kristie Sluder, a family, crisis and recovery counselor from Reems Creek.

The House did not take up the bill because of lack of support among the majority Republicans, said GOP Rep. Mark Pless, who currently represents Haywood and Madison counties. Pless opposes legalization, he told the Citizen Times.

"It is a gateway drug, which causes impairment as its primary function and results in addiction," he said.

The Citizen Times reached out to Democrat Evelyn Davidson who is running against Pless for the newly drawn 118th District in northeastern Haywood.

The bill sought to win over opponents such as Pless by including language that would ban recreational pot, even if it were legalized federally.

The effort is being led by Sen. Bill Rabon, a Brunswick County Republican and cancer survivor who said his illegal use of marijuana was recommended by an oncologist in order to withstand a difficult but lifesaving treatment.

One region of the state with medical marijuana is on the tribal lands of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The tribe sells cannabis to those with approved medical cards. On June 6, the Tribal Council voted to expand that to recreational marijuana and said sales could start in 60-75 days.

Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.