Call your legislators regularly to request ask for a conversation!

Review Effective Advocacy Youtube slides  https://www.ncnorml.org/effective-advocacy-2/ 

before your meeting, share cannabis information and listen to their questions and comments. Plan to follow-up with them later.

Help NC NORML analyze legislator contact by contributing your experience “Constituent Insights” (https://airtable.com/shruR7GLu11s9RWNy).

Additionally, please copy, paste, and email the message below to the NC Senator and Representative(s) in your county (https://ncleg.gov/FindYourLegislators for their email addresses)

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Dear Senator or Representative [insert their names],

Evidence shows other drugs have a higher addiction rate than that of Cannabis. In fact, in states where cannabis is legal, the use of both opioids and cocaine have seen a reduction.

Below are a few excerpts (and associated links) from reputable institutions to articles that further breakdown the evidence and statistics.

• A study from Mayo Clinic Proceedings reported addictive rates of Nicotine (32%), Heroin (23%), cocaine (17%), alcohol (15%) and marijuana (9%). SOURCE: https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196%2811%2900021-8/fulltext

• The Rand Corporation found in states that legalized cannabis (2006 to 2010), the amount of cocaine consumed decreased by approximately 50 percent while the estimated amount of marijuana consumption increased more than 30 percent. These figures are consistent with supply-side indicators, such as seizures and production estimates. SOURCE: https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/ondcp/policy-and-research/wausid_technical_report.pdf

• Journal of American Medical Association Internal Medicine reported that adult-use cannabis was associated with a 6.38% reduction in opioid prescriptions, compared to states with medical cannabis laws which saw a 5.88% lower rate. Marijuana legalization reduces the use and consequences of prescription opioids among Medicaid enrollees. SOURCE: https://www.pharmacist.com/article/association-medical-and-adult-use-marijuana-laws-opioid-prescribing-medicaid-enrollees

• A study funded by the National Institute of Health found over a 6-year period that “states with medical cannabis laws had a 24.8% lower opioid overdose mortality rate. Each subsequent year further reduced opioid overdoses by 20% in the 1st year, down to 33% in the 6th year. Secondary analyses found similar results. SOURCE: ​https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/ondcp/policy-and-research/wausid_results_report.pdf

• The Journal of Health Economics reported that the impact of cannabis access laws reduced the use of prescription opioids.While some individuals may go on to use opioids, both adult-use and medical cannabis access laws decrease opioid use. “Adult use and medical cannabis could be a valid policy option for combating the ongoing opioid epidemic, even if these laws were not originally conceived for that purpose.” SOURCE: https://law.vanderbilt.edu/phd/faculty/w-kip-viscusi/375_Impact_of_Cannabis_Access_Laws_on_Opioid_Prescribing.pdf

• NC Dept of Health and Human Services reported 12,130 drug overdose ER visits in 2019, with no reported cannabis overdoses. SOURCE: https://injuryfreenc.ncdhhs.gov/DataSurveillance/StatewideOverdoseSurveillanceReports/OpioidOverdoseEDVisitsMonthlyReports/MedDrugOverdosewithPotentialforDependency-EDVisits-June2020.pdf

• The Centers for Disease Control say that  “a fatal overdose is unlikely” as a result of cannabis use. The marijuana plant contains cannabinoids  that have shown to help symptoms for some health problems. More and more states are making it legal to use the plant as medicine for certain conditions. SOURCE: https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/faqs/overdose-bad-reaction.html  

Please consider how prohibition of cannabis harms many North Carolinians.

Thank you,

Your Name

Your County

Your contact info (optional)

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NC NORML needs your insights  about your legislators! If you have spoken to them please fill out the form linked below, so we can link it to their individual records. https://actionnetwork.org/forms/constituent-feedback