Holds office U.S. House District 3
C-SPAN VIDEO 12/5/2020: Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC) spoke in opposition to the MORE Act which would decriminalize cannabis and expunge convictions for non-violent cannabis offenses. He discussed the medical effects of marijuana and the possible consequences of decriminalizing it.:
"AS A PRACTICING PHYSICIAN, THIS BILL TROUBLES ME. ESPECIALLY WITH ITS RESEARCH IMPLICATIONS FOR THE YOUTH POPULATIONS. MARIJUANA IS ONE OF THE MOST ABUSED SUBSTANCES ON THE PLANET. I AM SYMPATHETIC TO THOSE WHO USE IT FOR PAIN RELIEF. IT HAS BEEN CLINICALLY PROVEN TO HAVE ACTIVITY IN THIS AREA. A STUDY FROM THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE, THE THC COMPONENT OF CANNABIS CAN BE THE MAIN CULPRIT IN PSYCHOSIS AND SCHIZOPHRENIA. A STUDY FROM DUKE UNIVERSITY SHOWED A FIVE TIMES INCREASED IN PSYCHOSIS AMONG CHRONIC CANNABIS USERS. THE U.S. SURGEON GENERAL AGREED THERE WERE SERIOUS HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF MARIJUANA IN ADOLESCENCE AND PREGNANCY. BILL FAILS TO SET ANY REQUIREMENTS FOR PRODUCTS TO KEEP FROM GETTING INTO THE HANDS OF TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS WHOSE BRAINS ARE DEVELOPING. THE MORE ACT DOES NOT PREVENT THE DISTRIBUTION OF MARIJUANA TO MINORS, DISK -- IS AGAINST STATES RIGHTS AND ALLOWS FOR THE POTENTIAL OF MARIJUANA REVENUE TO FUND CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS, GANGS OR CARTELS. I HAVE WHAT SMUGGLING OPERATIONS THIS LEGISLATION MIGHT ALLOW. LEGALIZING WEED WOULD CREATE REVENUE BUT AT WHAT COST? DO WE LEGALIZE COCAINE? MARIJUANA IS A GATEWAY DRUG. IT UNDOUBTEDLY LEADS TO FURTHER AND MORE DANGEROUS DRUG USE. WHILE I BELIEVE MEDICAL MARIJUANA CAN HAVE SOME ACTIVITY IN THOSE WITH CHRONIC PAIN OR CANCER, THIS BILL SIMPLY GOES WAY TOO FAR."
In response to 2022 NC Family Policy Council’s question “Should Congress legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes?” NO
Response to 2020 NC Family Policy Council's question "Should Congress legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes?" NO
D Indicates that this candidate has expressed no support for any significant marijuana law reform; slightly supportive of minor reforms (CBD) in public comments, but not a co-sponsor of any significant reform. Supportive of minor reform, but opposed to legalization.
Murphy cosponsored Representative Chuck Edwards' Stop Pot Act in 2023
"Yes, legalizing weed would create revenue from taxes. But at what cost? Do we then start legalizing cocaine? Marijuana is a gateway drug, make no mistake about that. It undoubtedly leads to further and much more dangerous drug use." (12/04/20)
As a member of the NC House of Representatives, in 2016, Murphy cosponsored HB 983 Legalize & Tax Medical Marijuana, a very limited bill which proposed an exemption for use of marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinols by patients with terminal or chronic illness.
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