Smoky Mountain News, 1/22/2019:
"It’s not at the top of my agenda. As you know I have campaigned on education and healthcare and universal broadband, that’s where I am putting my energy. I tell you, constituents are talking about this, it certainly part of the public conversation I am listening to. There’s people for it for healthcare reasons, there’s people for recreational reasons, there’s people that think it will solve the revenue and tax problems we have, you’ll hear all kinds of things.
What’s happening across the nation that I am paying attention to and I think North Carolina is paying attention to, and I hope citizens across my district are open-minded and paying attention – but I don’t think it’s going to be a top issue in this legislative session at we’re coming into. I can’t imagine it being so in North Carolina. We have a divided government, have a governor with the veto, we have a lot of issues along the lines of the priorities I’ve said – we’ve got to expand Medicaid, got to improve our school systems, we’ve got to get the infrastructure of the 21st century to the people.
Now, we will be listening to what’s going on in California and their experiences, what the consequences of this are. I mean, what are the pros and cons from real experiences across the nation, rather than just people’s opinions?
We’re actually in a good spot to North Carolina to get some real results before we jump in. North Carolina’s always been a little conservative on issues like this, and I think they’ll continue to be. The short of it is, don’t expect anything that happen right away.
We did legalize marijuana oil for medical purposes in North Carolina, so we’ve got our toe in the medical side as well, so that’s sort of where we stand. Again, I’m listening and I am watching the consequences across the nation, the experiment with this concept, this product, however you want to say it.
The law enforcement community has a big interest in it, the medical community has a big interest in it, public health community has a big interest in it, the business community has a big interest in it, citizens of every stripe, pro and con have a big interest in it, but I think they are little like me, they are watching to see what happens across the country, they may not be against it or for it yet. They’re listening and watching and I am open-minded and listening as well."
“I have been very cautious about legalizing recreational marijuana in North Carolina. I am waiting for results from the dozen or so states that have already done it and how they’re doing,” he said. “I have a lot of folks that certainly think medical marijuana would be very helpful and I definitely think it should be decriminalized as a product. So, I am not for it at the present time, but I am open to the research and the follow-through for the conversation in the future.” Smoky Mountain News, 30 September 2020
Both candidates acknowledged the crop’s affinity for the sun and soils of Western North Carolina, and the possibility it could help fill the hole left by the decimation of the state’s tobacco industry; Queen remains open to the idea of recreational marijuana and supports medicinal use. Smoky Mountain News, 30 September 2020
A 'B' letter grade indicates that this member/candidate supports policies specific to the legalization of medical cannabis and/or the decriminalization of cannabis; sponsor/co-sponsor of medical cannabis legalization legislation; outspoken in public comments about it; and/or sponsor/co-sponsor of other significant reform legislation
Voted Aye on HB1220-Hope 4 Haley and Friends which proposed a pilot study program and registry to investigate the safety and efficacy of hemp extract in the treatment of intractable epilepsy. Neurologists at UNC-Chapel Hill, East Carolina University, Wake Forest University and Duke University were encouraged to conduct studies and provide hemp extract of less than 0.3% THC by weight and at least 10% cannabidiol by weight to patients with intractable epilepsy who enrolled in those studies. 2014
Voted Aye on HB766-Amend CBD Oil Statute which proposed that board certified neurologists may recommend hemp extract containing less than 0.9% THC by weight and at least 5% cannabidiol by weight to patients with intractable epilepsy without enrolling in pilot studies, and that DHHS set up a database of patients, caregivers and neurologists rather than a registry. 2015
Voted Aye on SB313-Industrial Hemp which proposed the development of an industrial hemp industry in the State in order to expand employment, promote economic activity, and provide opportunities to small farmers for an environmentally sustainable and profitable use of crop lands that might otherwise be lost to agricultural production; to establish an agricultural pilot program for the cultivation of industrial hemp in the State, to provide for reporting on the program by growers and processors for agricultural or other research, and to pursue any federal permits or waivers necessary to allow industrial hemp to be grown in the State. 2015
Voted Aye on HB992/SB77-Amend Industrial Hemp Definition which proposed modifications in language of SL2015-299, increased number of Commissioners from 5 to 9, proposed that the Commission will issue licenses for “research” to include “the growth, cultivation, and marketing of industrial hemp.” 2015
Did not respond to NC NORML's 2020 Questionnaire