Two bills brought forth by NC House of Representatives Rep. Earl Jones (D-Guilford) aim to protect medical patients and their right to use marijuana when prescribed by their physician. Both of these bills are titled The Medical Marijuana Act. If you support the use of medical marijuana in North Carolina please contact your NC House Representative. You can find your representative here.
This is very important. If you don’t let your representative know how you feel, they will undoubtedly just vote in line with their party.
The bills are wonderfully crafted, and protect patients who’s licensed physician prescribes the use of marijuana to them. The first bill, HB 1380 would be one passed by the legislature in Raleigh. The second bill, HB 1383 would be a referendum that would be put before the voters for our approval.
If someone has cancer, HIV, Hepatitis C, or any other ailment why shouldn’t they be able to use cannabis if it makes them feel better? It is after all just a plant, and likely much safer than using the poison pumped out by big pharmaceutical companies. In fact it’s likely these same companies lobbying against the bills and lining the pockets of the politicians who would vote down the bills.
Not to mention the fact that medical policy should be dictated by people and their doctors, not elected officials. Who are they to decide what’s best to put in your body?
Another great thing about this bill is the fact that the state would gain an additional $60 million a year in new revenue. And given the current state of our North Carolina’s fiscal situation that would be nice to have.
As of now, the bill is before the House Committee on health. We need to lean hard on our legislators to push it through to the judiciary, and finance committees.
I will be working on a list of the bills supporters as well as it’s opponents. If you see your representative supports the bill, thank them. If you see they do not support it, let them know they’ll lose your vote.
HB 1380 Supporters:
- Earl Jones (D-Guilford)
- Pricey Harrison (D-Guilford)
- Nick Mackey (D-Mecklenburg)
- Kelly M. Alexander, Jr. (D-Mecklenburg)
- Susan Fisher (D-Buncombe)
HB 1380 Opponents:
- Pat McElraft (R-Carteret,Jones)
This list will be updated as often as I find more information. If you’ve contacted your legislator let me know if they support or oppose the Medical Marijuana Act. Let’s show the rest of the country that North Carolina is full of forward thinking, compassionate, and independent thinking people.