Medical Cannabis Makes Gains in North Carolina, Stalls in the White House

After twelve years of legislative efforts, the prospects for North Carolina to become the newest state to legalize the use of medical cannabis [MM1] are suddenly looking up. While the state’s push for medical use has been primarily undertaken by Democratic lawmakers in the past, new legislation now carries the support of Republicans as well, including key support from state Senate Republican leader, Sen. Bill Rabon, who currently serves as chairman of Senate Rules and Operations committee[1].

North Carolina’s newest piece of cannabis legislation, SB711, bears similar language to a few of the twelve previously proposed bills, but differs in its omission of the words “marijuana,” or “cannabis,” in the article’s title, opting instead for the name, “NC Compassionate Care Act”[2]. Indeed, the bill places a strong focus on the usage of cannabis for medical treatment, stating that “Modern medical research has found that cannabis and cannabinoid compounds are effective at alleviating pain, nausea and other symptoms associated with several debilitating medical conditions”[3].

Studies have shown that cannabis can have several medical applications, including treating nausea and vomiting in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, improving food intake in patients with HIV, and assisting with both neuropathic and general pain[4]. Furthermore, recent studies have hinted that some cannabinoids may slow growth or even cause death in certain cancer cells[5].

Yet while existing studies bode well for the medicinal application of cannabis, further research is still needed, and federal criminalization of cannabis stands as a barrier. The classification of cannabis as a Schedule 1 controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) mandates certain conditions for researchers and overall discourages the scientific study of medical cannabis[6]. Though a total of 36 states have legalized the use of medical cannabis, with North Carolina possibly soon to be the 37th [7], change at the federal level seems uncertain.

Although President Biden had pledged to seek cannabis policy reforms during his campaign, including decriminalization and expunging cannabis records[8], the administration has not taken action so far. In an interview with The San Francisco Chronicle on April 5th, Vice President Kamala Harris stated that cannabis policy has not been an immediate priority, and that the White House has focused instead on the COVID-19 pandemic[9]. Though Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer recently stated that he plans to introduce his own cannabis legislation[10], imminent action from the Biden administration seems uncertain, especially considering the recent ousting of White House staffers with prior marijuana use[11].

While legislators in North Carolina and other states may hold that cannabis has beneficial medicinal uses, the federal government, for the moment, remains unchanged in its designation of cannabis as a Schedule 1 controlled substance, maintaining, in contrast to the evidence, that cannabis has no medicinal use. But medical cannabis is not just another item on a political agenda; it’s a treatment option whose proven benefits[12] could offer many patients an improved quality of life.

[1] Richard Craver, “Latest Attempt at Legalizing Medical Cannabis in NC Gets Boost from GOP Support,” Winston-Salem Journal, accessed April 9, 2021, https://journalnow.com/news/local/latest-attempt-at-legalizing-medical-cannabis-in-nc-gets-boost-from-gop-support/article_d9268bbe-9871-11eb-b559-dfc5aff2b2ce.html.

[2] Craver.

[3] Craver.

[4] “Cannabis and Cancer,” accessed April 8, 2021, https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/complementary-and-alternative-medicine/cannabis-and-cancer.html.

[5] “Cannabis and Cancer.”

[6] “Cannabis and Cancer.”

[7] Craver, “Latest Attempt at Legalizing Medical Cannabis in NC Gets Boost from GOP Support.”

[8] Kyle Jaeger, “Biden Is Too Busy To Decriminalize Cannabis, Harris Says,” Cannabis Moment (blog), April 6, 2021, https://www.cannabismoment.net/biden-is-too-busy-to-decriminalize-cannabis-harris-says/.

[9] Joe Garofoli, “Kamala Harris Promises White House Support for Gavin Newsom in Recall Election,” San Francisco Chronicle, April 6, 2021, https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Kamala-Harris-promises-White-House-support-for-16078969.php.

[10] “Schumer: Senate Will Act on Cannabis Legalization with or without Biden,” POLITICO, accessed April 9, 2021, https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/03/schumer-senate-cannabis-legalization-478963.

[11] Scott Bixby Rawnsley Asawin Suebsaeng,Adam, “Biden White House Sandbags Staffers, Sidelines Dozens for Pot Use,” The Daily Beast, March 19, 2021, sec. politics, https://www.thedailybeast.com/biden-white-house-sandbags-staffers-sidelines-dozens-for-pot-use.

[12] “Cannabis and Cannabinoids (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version,” National Cancer Institute, National Cancer Institute, March 16, 2011, nciglobal,ncienterprise, https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/hp/cannabis-pdq.