Wednesday July 21 saw a second Senate committee discuss the North Carolina medical cannabis bill. However, the initial vote had been delayed a week. SB 711, known as the North Carolina Compassionate Care Act, would legalize medical cannabis in limited quantities for qualifying patients.

SB 711

Under SB 711, a potential medical cannabis patient must receive a diagnosis of a “debilitating medical condition.” Those include:

• Cancer
• Epilepsy
• HIV/AIDS
• Parkinson’s Disease
• MS

This limited list is one of the most conservative programs in the country, should it pass the Senate and the House. However, medical cannabis regulators would have the authority to add additional qualifying conditions as they see necessary. The potential for new conditions making it to this qualifying list is high and encouraging for people. 

A nine member Medical Cannabis Production Commission would be created under SB 711. This commission would “provide a safe, regulated supply of cannabis appropriate for medical use by qualified registry identification cardholders; ensure statewide access to safe and affordable cannabis to registry identification cardholders; establish a system that is well regulated, includes a seed to sale tracking system, and is financially viable for suppliers to ensure the highest quality cannabis and cannabis infused products for patients; and generate sufficient revenue for the Commission to oversee and for the Department to maintain and operate the system.”

Additionally, the North Carolina Cannabis Research Program would be established. Their goal is “to conduct objective, scientific research regarding the administration of cannabis or cannabis-infused products as part of medical treatment.”

Amendments

Both the Judiciary Committee, the first committee to approve SB 711, and the Senate Finance Committee, the second committee, added amendments to the Compassionate Care Act. The Judiciary Committee added three amendments. Firstly, the number of medical cannabis dispensaries to receive a license would decrease from eight to four. Secondly, physicians must indicate any approved types of delivery methods a patient qualifies for. Dispensary employees can access this information to make sure they follow the law and dispense a patient’s medicine properly.

Finally, the last amendment would enhance the penalties for unlawful medical cannabis offenses, such as trafficking. There are more severe punishments for those found with unlawful medical cannabis than those found with non-medical or recreational cannabis. 

From the Finance Committee, only one amendment became added to SB 711. The medical cannabis program would be self-sustaining. Previous versions of SB 711 had no language creating the medical cannabis program as a self-sustaining entity. Any tax revenue generated from sales will first cover the cost of the program before distributing elsewhere.

Support

The likelihood of SB 711 passing in the Senate and the House is slim as the regular session comes to an end on August 31. But key lawmakers in both chambers have expressed support for a medical cannabis program. 

There is also pressure from the general public. Previously, Elon University conducted a survey and asked North Carolina citizens how they felt about medical cannabis legalization. Nearly 75 percent of those polled said the state should legalize some sort of medical cannabis program. Currently, cannabis views are shifting in North Carolina and across the country. Decriminalization efforts are going into effect and more medical and recreational cannabis programs are becoming legal. As more information becomes available, we will update you with the latest. 

Make sure to check back for more cannabis and hemp related news.