HAYWOOD COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Senators in North Carolina’s General Assembly voted once again to legalize medical marijuana on Thursday, June 20. But, this measure is far from becoming law.
A local political expert says many hurdles remain.
The North Carolina Senate has voted three times in three years to legalize medical marijuana, but so far, most Republicans in the House have postured for it not to get to a vote.
“They’ll take it up again next week,” said Dr. Chris Cooper, Robert Lee Madison distinguished professor and director of the Haire Institute for Public Policy at Western Carolina University.
Cooper said the issue of medical marijuana is in play as the state House and Senate try to hammer out a new state budget.
“The two are not seeing eye to eye,” he said. “The House has been very stubborn saying that they don’t want to do that.”
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Cooper said Republican Sen. Bill Rabon is indicating his support for medical marijuana by crediting it for his recovery from colon cancer.
“The House doesn’t have that kind of policy entrepreneur on their side. So, I’d expect to see the Senate be much more liberal on this because particularly of Senator Rabon,” Cooper said.
Rep. Mark Pless, R-N.C., says there is no reason for the state to pass medical marijuana.
Pless said he does not believe this measure will gain traction.
“It will die at the end of the session this year. It’s not going to be voted on. There’s no support for it in the House,” he said.
Cooper said the issue could foster more discussion between the two chambers, as well as between parties.
“These western North Carolina representatives and some of the senators have this interesting dilemma where there is another nation, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians — that is sometimes in their district that does allow medical marijuana,” Cooper said.
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The tribe recently approved recreational sales of marijuana to begin soon for adults exclusively for use on the Qualla boundary.
“How do legislators vote when they already have some bit of this legal, but only in some very, very specific geographic location?” Cooper said.
He said there are many remaining questions regarding the passage of a marijuana bill.
“There are a lot of pot-like substances that are currently available — legally — on many of our streets,” he said. “And so, where exactly is that line drawn?”
Another attempt at the marijuana measure could come up on Monday, June 24.
FILE – June 21, 2024 – Senators in North Carolina’s General Assembly voted once more to legalize medical marijuana on Thursday, June 20, but legalization will not be coming soon. (Photo credit: WLOS staff) Read More