NC Senate passes medical marijuana; legislation faces uncertain future as it heads to the House

North Carolina lawmakers discussed legislation to legalize medical marijuana. Photo: Getty Images

On a 36-10 vote , the North Carolina Senate passed sweeping legislation Monday evening that would allow for the use of medical marijuana while strictly regulating hemp-derived consumables.

Senator Tom McInnis (R- Cumberland, Moore ) said he had no doubt that the bill sponsor was well-intended in bringing forward House Bill 563 , but he could not support a bill that his local sheriff adamantly opposed.

“I looked further into the bill and the last thing it says under issues that can be treated, it says, and any other serious medical condition or its treatment added by the Compassionate Use Advisory Board,” said McInnis. “Any condition, ladies and gentlemen, is fair game for treatment under this bill as it is written. Paralysis, gonorrhea, broken heart, anything that that group says is going to be okay.”

McInnis argued that HB 563 was a precursor to the legalization of recreational marijuana.

Bill sponsor Senator Bill Rabon (R- Brunswick) followed with an amendment stating that if marijuana is rescheduled or deleted as a controlled substance under federal law, it cannot be made legal for recreational use at the state level unless approved by the North Carolina General Assembly.

While several Senate Democrats worried about the carveout provision, the amendment passed 26-20.

Still, Sen. Norm Sanderson (R-Carteret) urged his colleagues not to go down this slippery slope.

“Right now, North Carolina has a way of stopping something that I think is a mistake,” cautioned Sanderson. “Wait until this becomes law, if it does, we’re really going to see an explosion in the black market. Because people are not going to be satisfied with the current level where we’ve set the THC in this medical marijuana. They’re going to be wanting something stronger because it always leads to something stronger.”

But Sen. Gladys Robinson (D-Guilford) said she believed after consulting with medical experts the state should move forward with medicinal cannabis and hemp regulation.

“I have talked to the medical center doctors at Duke and UNC Chapel Hill that have provided research and care for sickle cell patients. And their advice to me has been that they feel that medical marijuana will help sickle cell patients to regulate the pain. And that pain keeps them from functioning in life.”

Senator Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell) reminded his colleagues that they failed to act when hemp-derived products first came on the market.

“We missed the concept that a single gummy bear could be considered 12 doses. But we didn’t see that coming. So, I really ask members as this bill goes forward, don’t take your eye off the ball. Make sure that we are regulating the products in North Carolina that contain THC, whether it’s marijuana or whether it’s some other derived form of synthetic.”

Hise added that he has been a caregiver for two family members who died of cancer.

“I’ve seen what high doses of Oxycontin will do to them. And I don’t suspect that marijuana is worse.”

Seventeen Republicans, including Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, joined all Democrats in the chamber in voting for the bill. All ten who opposed the legislation were Republican.

House Bill 563 now heads to the North Carolina House. It’s unclear if House Speaker Tim Moore will bring the bill up for a vote. He has previously said there was not enough support in the Republican caucus to pass medical marijuana legislation.

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