Discussions Resume About Legalizing Medical Marijuana In North Carolina
While some states across the country have had medical and recreational marijuana legal for years here in the south things are a bit different. I’m not here to say if that’s right or wrong, just the case. Evidenced by the fact that a few short years ago you couldn’t purchase alcohol on Sundays before noon. But as with that, things can evolve and change. So can/will medical marijuana be legalized in North Carolina? Well, the state may be one step closer.
The NC Senate subcommittee that first discussed the topic of medical marijuana last year has decided to revisit the stalled bill beginning next week. It’s called SB 711 or the “NC Compassionate Care Act”.
According to WRAL in Raleigh, under SB 711 physicians would be able to provide written certification for the use of medical marijuana in the state of North Carolina to ease the symptoms of certain conditions including:
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
- HIV/AIDS
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Crohn’s disease
- Sickle cell anemia
- Parkinson’s disease
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Cachexia or wasting syndrome
- Severe or persistent nausea “related to end-of-life or hospice care,” or in someone who is bedridden or homebound
- A terminal illness when the patient’s remaining life expectancy is less than six months
- Any condition when the patient is in hospice care
If legalized, cannabis would have to be in special packaging and labeled featuring the recommending physician and dosage. Notice the word recommend used instead of prescribed as the latter would mean the FDA was involved. Since marijuana is not federally it can’t officially be prescribed.
A similar bill in South Carolina passed the state Senate, but not the house. It will be interesting to see what happens regarding medical marijuana in North Carolina and if any progress is made.
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