"Hubbard said that despite his concerns about marijuana, he likely would vote for legalizing possession of small amounts for recreational and medicinal purposes if he believed a majority of North Carolinians supported this. “I’m also tired of putting people in jail and prison for possession of marijuana,” he said. “If the will of the people is to legalize marijuana, I will support it.”

Hubbard said North Carolina is in a position similar to where it was before the lottery was approved, referring to North Carolinians buying lottery tickets in other nearby states before the N.C. legislature approved lottery ticket sales.

“We have one state around us (Virginia) that has legalized recreational and medical marijuana and there will be more” adjoining states doing this. “On July 1, 2021, it became legal for people at least 21 to possess up to an ounce of marijuana in Virginia. Consumers pay a 21% state sales tax when they purchase marijuana in Virginia, plus local governments can add up to a 3% sales tax.” Hubbard said this raises a lost tax revenue issue for North Carolina."