A North Carolina official has now been designated to serve on a nascent medical cannabis commission, despite the commission’s absence in formal legal existence within the state. The predicament lies in the yet-to-be-approved medical marijuana program, as a legislative bill for its enactment encountered a standstill in this year’s legislative session.
Senator Bill Rabon (R), the proponent of a medical marijuana legalization proposal that traversed the Senate but faltered in the House during the initial half of the biennial session, incorporated an appointment to the Medical Cannabis Production Commission within a broader legislative package in July. This strategic move was intended to signify his earnest commitment to effecting comprehensive reform.
Following the successful passage of the appointments legislation by both legislative chambers last week, the enactment into law paves the way for Stephen Windham to occupy a position within the hypothetical medical marijuana commission. This circumstance prevails even in the absence of the commission’s tangible existence. Should medical cannabis indeed attain legalization, Windham’s tenure will extend through July 1, 2027.
The legislative proposition that the House refrained from advancing would charge the commission with the duty of ensuring an adequate supply of medical cannabis for patients, while concurrently overseeing the licensing of cannabis enterprises.
A prospective scenario emerges wherein Windham might eventually assume an authentic role within the commission. This hypothetical circumstance would unfold should the legislature revisit Rabon’s underlying legalization bill and manage to usher it through to passage in the subsequent year.
The legislative journey of this reform commenced with the Senate’s endorsement in March. While the House committee considered the bill, an unwritten protocol necessitating majority support from the GOP caucus to bring a bill to the floor impacted its progression. House Majority Leader John Bell (R) remarked last month that, regrettably, the cannabis legislation failed to amass sufficient support in this round, yet he forecasted its resurgence in the coming year.
Rabon has championed this cause for several years, adopting innovative tactics during the recent session to compel action in the opposing chamber. Notably, while the House halted progress on the legalization bill, Rabon successfully appended an amendment to an unrelated House proposal, linking its effective date to the passage of medical cannabis reform.
As currently composed, his legalization proposal would grant individuals with qualifying conditions such as cancer, epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and multiple sclerosis the right to possess and procure cannabis from licensed dispensaries.
House Speaker Tim Moore (R) expressed optimism in the legislation’s chances of passage, despite subsequent remarks casting uncertainty over its 2023 prospects. He acknowledged the shifting dynamics around marijuana reform, fueled by the influx of new members. Moore asserted that over 50 percent of the chamber now lends support to medical cannabis, sparking his belief in the potential progression of the bill.
At a House committee hearing in May, Rabon candidly shared personal anecdotes about his own battle with cancer and his utilization of cannabis as a treatment modality. He recounted how his doctor advised him to employ marijuana before undergoing rigorous chemotherapy, and how he personally communicated his intent to use the plant for therapeutic purposes to local law enforcement. Subsequently, packages of cannabis were sent to him regularly.
The key tenets of the medical cannabis legislation, SB 3, encompass:
- Granting patient access to cannabis in cases of “debilitating medical conditions,” including cancer, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and PTSD.
- Authorization of smoking and vaping, contingent on physicians prescribing specific delivery methods and dosages. Patients’ eligibility for the program would need annual reevaluation.
- Provision for up to 10 medical marijuana suppliers, each with control over cultivation and sales, and permitted to operate up to eight dispensaries—an increase from the initial cap.
- Creation of a Compassionate Use Advisory Board with the authority to add new qualifying medical conditions.
- Establishment of a Medical Cannabis Production Commission to ensure adequate supply, oversee licensing, and generate revenue for regulatory purposes.
- Formation of a North Carolina Cannabis Research Program for scientific exploration of cannabis administration in medical treatment.
- Notably absent are specific equity provisions that advocacy often underscores in legalization legislation.
