Last Wednesday the North Carolina Senate held a hearing on Senate bill 711, The North Carolina Compassionate Care Act. The proposed Act is the newest attempt in an initiative which began in 2009 to permit medical marijuana use in North Carolina. The Act would legalize medical marijuana and protect patients and doctors from criminal and civil penalty for use of marijuana for medical purposes.

If this bill passes, an individual with a qualifying medical condition (or that person’s designated caregiver) and a prescription from a licensed physician can register with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for use of medical marijuana. An individual holding a valid medical use card is exempt from criminal prosecution.

Passage of the bill would open an opportunity for 10 medical marijuana suppliers licensed by the Medical Cannabis Production Commission to control seed to sale production in the state.  The bill also calls for up to eight medical cannabis centers that would sell to the public.  10% of the licensed suppliers’ gross monthly revenues will be paid to the Department of Health and Human Services.

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