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Updated February 20, 2013
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Welcome to the NC Medical Cannabis web site, a clearinghouse for information about the NC Medical Cannabis Act.
Feb 20, 2013 - Raleigh
Today was a sad day in the Tar Heel state. Our elected representatives, when meeting in the NC House Rules Committee, in a motion introduced by Rules Committee Vice Chair Paul "Skip" Stam, voted an "unfavorable" for HB 84, which ends HB 84 and any senate or other house versions of this bill for this 2013-2014 Session. A very sad day... but no time for despair. Despite the harsh and cold dismissal of this bill, the (Republican leadership's) inhumane response to the citizens' calls to forward the bill is not out of character for this most reactionary legislature in recent history.
The excuse given for voting the bill "unfavorable" was in response to what was termed "harassing" amounts of emails and phone calls. It is shocking that a bill would be dismissed because of citizen interest and passion.
Without dwelling on the unenlightened who chose to dismiss the bill without consideration, we need to foster the new allies we have made in the last several weeks since the bill was introduced.
We have made some new allies, with formal recognition of medical cannabis in the state's Democratic platform, by newly elected state chair Randy Voller.
We have increased citizen awareness about the medical advances made in cannabinoid medicine, and we have learned of more health professionals who show the courage to step up for patient rights. We received grassroots educational outreach from the American Cannabis Nurses Association, and helped more citizens understand the harsh public health toll taken on suffering citizens who get ensnared in the tangle of the criminal justice system and get labeled "drug offenders".
We knew it would be a steep climb. For those who need medicine now, at least there are states where they can seek asylum. For the rest of us, we need to learn from today's events, remember this on election day, and focus on education and outreach in the most civil manner possible. Harsh rhetoric has raised hackles on our opponents and emotional pleas for mercy have fallen on deaf ears.
But we should not give up on making our beautiful North Carolina a kinder place to live.
The bill: HB 84- Introduced February 7, 2013
Please remember that activists serve as diplomats for our cause. Please be civil, legal and respectful at all times.
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