If elected, I would push for decriminalization in stages. I would start by sponsoring legislation to legalize the marijuana supply chain and create a state agency charged with taxing and regulating their activities. Revenues could support raises for public-school teachers, scholarships for students, or simply our state’s rainy-day fund. Then, I would push for cannabis access for people who have medical ailments (e.g., those with autism, Crohn’s disease, and multiple sclerosis) that are not currently covered by state law.

Finally, I would sponsor legislation decriminalizing the recreational use of cannabis within N.C., which would prevent law enforcement from arresting marijuana users. This would deliver justice for Mecklenburg County’s African Americans, who are 4.6 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession even though whites use marijuana at the same rates (per the ACLU).

Even for those who would not use marijuana—me included—legalizing the supply chain and decriminalizing individual use would have tangible benefits, including entrepreneurship, economic dynamism, and thousands of jobs. This is an opportunity that we should seize."