Link to NCGA profile

Mike.Woodard@ncleg.gov

(919) 733-4809

Link to NCGA bio

INDY Week Candidate Questionnaire 10/20/22

12. Do you support reforming North Carolina’s marijuana laws?

Yes.

Do you support full legalization?

I support legalization of various amounts and with various safeguards.

Please explain your position.

The General Assembly should pass S711, which would establish a program of legal medical marijuana.

I’m not exactly sure what our questioner means by “full legalization,” but I favor decriminalizing marijuana and establishing a program for personal recreational use with vigorous safeguards.

2021:

SB483 Marijuana/Diversion Court/Class 3 Misd. Study

S646 Marijuana Justice and Reinvestment Act

2023:

S3 NC Compassionate Care Act

2021:

S711 NC Compassionate Care Act.

A+ Publicly supports ending prohibition of marijuana for adults - primary sponsor of legislation.

Voting History:

SB 3 NC Compassionate Care Act: YES - 2023

SB 711 NC Compassionate Care Act: YES - 2022

SB 168 Expand Allowed Medical Uses/Cannabis Extract: YES - 2019 

SB 124 LEO Managed CBD Oil Drop Box: YES - 2018 

HB 992/SB 771 Amend Industrial Hemp Definition: Excused Absence - 2016 

SB 313 Industrial Hemp: EXCUSED ABSENCE - 2015 

HB 766 Amend CBD Oil Statute: YES - 2015

HB 1220 Hope 4 Haley and Friends: YES - 2014

Responses to NC NORML's 2020 Primary Questionnaire: 

Do you support prohibiting access to marijuana (cannabis) by persons younger than 21 years, unless for evidence-based medical applications prescribed by a healthcare provider and with parental consent? YES

Research reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that states with legalized cannabis saw a reduction in opioid use and opioid overdose deaths. Would you consider legalizing medical cannabis as a strategy to reduce opioid use? YES

According to the Cato Institute, North Carolina spent ~ $263.3 million in state and local dollars to enforce cannabis laws in 2016. Meanwhile, the American Journal of Drug Alcohol Abuse found that arrestees who tested positive for THC had low incidents of aggressive crime. Aggressive crimes were associated with self-reported use of alcohol. Would you consider decriminalizing possession of cannabis since its use results in less aggression than legal alcohol? YES

A Mayo Clinic study has shown that cannabis has lower addiction rates than alcohol (Nicotine 32%; Heroin 23%; Cocaine 17%; Alcohol 15%; Cannabis 9%). Do you agree that adults should have the right to use cannabis? YES

Contradicting the myth that cannabis is a gateway drug, the RAND Corporation reported in 2012 that the use of cocaine dropped 50% as cannabis use increased 40%. Cannabis is associated with lower use of hard drugs and is not a gateway drug. Would you consider legalizing adult use of cannabis? MAYBE