RALEIGH, N.C. (March 2, 2023) – On Wednesday, the North Carolina Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill that would legalize medical marijuana in the state despite ongoing federal cannabis prohibition.
Sen. William Rabon (R) and a bipartisan coalition of cosponsors introduced Senate Bill 3 (SB3) on January 27. The legislation would legalize medical marijuana for patients with a “debilitating medical condition” as determined by their physicians. Qualifying conditions would include cancer, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and post-traumatic stress disorder. A Compassionate Use Advisory Board would have the power to designate more qualifying conditions. Under the law, a Medical Cannabis Production Commission would set up the regulatory structure for a state medical cannabis program, including the cultivation and sale of medicinal cannabis.
All of this remains illegal under federal law. Despite that, on March 1, the Senate passed S3 by a 36-10 vote.
A similar measure passed the Senate last year but died in the GOP-controlled House. But House Speaker Tim Moore (R) said in an interview that he’s optimistic the bill can pass the House this time around.
“I think there’s been a change. We have a lot of new members,” he said, adding that he believes more than 50 percent of lawmakers now back medical cannabis reform. “I would not be surprised at all if that bill moved. I think the odds are more likely than not that something will happen on that.”
EFFECT ON FEDERAL PROHIBITION
Under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) passed in 1970, the federal government maintains a complete prohibition of marijuana. Of course, the federal government lacks any constitutional authority to ban or regulate cannabis within the borders of a state, despite the opinion of the politically connected lawyers on the Supreme Court. If you doubt this, ask yourself why it took a constitutional amendment to institute federal alcohol prohibition.
Legalizing medical marijuana would remove a layer of laws prohibiting the possession and use of marijuana in North Carolina even though federal prohibition remains in effect. This is significant because FBI statistics show that law enforcement makes approximately 99 of 100 marijuana arrests under state, not federal law. When states stop enforcing marijuana laws, they sweep away most of the basis for 99 percent of marijuana arrests.
Furthermore, figures indicate it would take 40 percent of the DEA’s yearly budget just to investigate and raid all of the dispensaries in Los Angeles – a single city in a single state. That doesn’t include the cost of prosecution. The lesson? The feds lack the resources to enforce marijuana prohibition without state assistance.
A GROWING MOVEMENT
Colorado, Washington state, Oregon and Alaska were the first states to legalize recreational cannabis, and California, Nevada, Maine and Massachusetts joined them after ballot initiatives in favor of legalization were passed in November 2016. Michigan followed suit when voters legalized cannabis for general use in 2018. Vermont became the first state to legalize marijuana through a legislative act in 2018. Illinois followed suit in 2019. New Jersey, Montana and Arizona all legalized recreational marijuana through ballot measures in the 2020 election. In 2021, New York, New Mexico, Virginia and Connecticut legalized marijuana through legislative action, and Rhode Island legalized cannabis for adult use in 2022. With Missouri and Maryland legalizing marijuana in November, there are now 37 states allowing cannabis for medical use, and 21 legalizing for adult recreational use.
The lesson here is pretty straightforward. As Tenth Amendment Center Executive Director Michael Boldin noted, “When enough people say, ‘No!’ to the federal government, and enough states pass laws backing those people up, there’s not much the feds can do to shove their so-called laws, regulations, or mandates down our throats.”
WHAT’S NEXT
S3 will now move to the House. At the time of this report, it had not been referred to a committee. Once it gets a committee assignment, it must get a hearing and pass by a majority vote before moving forward in the legislative process.