Lobbyist Update: The Senate Judiciary Committee discussed Senate Bill 711 on June 23, and heard public comments. A vote may be held next week. This is a highly regulated bill that will be implemented by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture, a Medical Cannabis Advisory Board, and a Medical Cannabis Production Commission. Senators Rabon and Lee and others drafted the bill to address the concerns of senators who have deep misgivings. The medical conditions in the bill are limited, but there is an avenue for change in the future. The Medical Cannabis Advisory Board may add other debilitating medical conditions. See the bill summary below.
https://dashboard.ncleg.gov/api/Services/BillSummary/2021/S711-SMBP-63(CSBPxfr-15)-v-3
- ACTION ALERT from NC NORML
Action: Please Copy and Paste this Message and Email These Leaders ASAP
Subject: It’s Time To Take A Position On Medical Cannabis Legalization
Representative Tim Moore: [email protected]
Attorney General Stein: [email protected]
Governor Cooper: [email protected]
Representative Donny Lambeth (Chair of the Health Committee): [email protected]
Dear [RECIPIENT NAME]:
Multiple medical cannabis legalization bills have been introduced during the long session of the General Assembly. A national survey estimates that nearly a million North Carolinians use medical cannabis but don’t have the benefit of medical advice. Obviously cannabis prohibition isn’t working and there are concrete reasons to legalize medical cannabis.
- Medical professionals in North Carolina should have the freedom to decide how to treat their patients.
- Research has identified at least 30 medical conditions that respond to cannabinoids (including THC and CBD), or look promising for further research including Alzheimer’s disease. Cannabinoids have demonstrated anti-cancer effects in pre-clinical trials.
- When states legalize cannabis, the use of opioids, cocaine and heroin decreases. Opioid use by Medicare patients is reduced resulting in substantial savings. If all states legalized cannabis, Medicare would save about $1 billion annually.
- Legal, regulated medical cannabis would protect patients by testing cannabis for toxins and providing safe access to bonafide dispensaries. It could cut ties to drug dealers who do not provide any assurance of quality control, and some may lace cannabis with highly addictive drugs.
- According to the Mayo Clinic, cannabis (9%) is less addictive than alcohol (15%), and tobacco (32%).
-Sincerely, [YOUR NAME]
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