Sen. Jim Burgin, R-Lee, said he voted against SB711 because of his concern that it would allow “Big Marijuana” to flourish in North Carolina following legislative efforts to limit the influence of “Big Tobacco.”
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From his response to Ballotpedia Candidate Questionnaire in 2020:
As Attorney General, I have also pursued policies that promote equity for all North Carolinians and improve public safety. For that reason, I support criminal justice reforms, such as bail reform, juvenile justice reform, and effective reentry. I also support more effective responses to domestic violence and sexual assault. Particularly in light of the killing of George Floyd and the ensuing protests, working toward comprehensive criminal justice reforms must be a priority - and one reason I am honored Gov. Cooper appointed me to co-chair the Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice in North Carolina.
Budd was the lead signatory to the following letter to Senator Mike Crapo, the chair of the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday, thanking him for proposing a series of restrictive changes to a House-passed bill to provide marijuana businesses with greater access to financial services.
Reflector 6/8/2022 - Local lawmakers mixed on medical cannabis bill
Sen. Don Davis, who represents Pitt and Greene counties, said the licensure policy established in the bill led him to vote against it. He was one of two Democrats to vote against the bill in the Senate despite having an “open mind” about legalization itself.
“I’ve maintained a commitment to farmers over the years, and when I look at the bill I believe the bill leaves out your small family farmers in particular,” Davis said. “Eastern North Carolina’s economy (has) struggled ever since tobacco manufacturing has gone south and I think it’s important we continue to look at ways to build our economy.”
Davis added he would like to see a bill include some form of decriminalization or forgiveness for those convicted for possessing small amounts of marijuana.
2021 - Despite her position against cannabis, she has bought cannabis stock. https://www.salon.com/2021/05/29/meet-the-anti-legalization-gop-congresswoman-cashing-in-on-marijuana-stocks/
"Legalization of hemp cultivation is a topic on which I received a great deal of mail when I was in the North Carolina State Senate but I have not read a great deal about it since coming to Congress. One of my concerns is that people would grow hemp to circumvent laws regarding marijuana. Drug addiction is one of the largest challenges we face in this country and I will continue to oppose any effort to make it easier for people to grow and use drugs." https://tinyurl.com/FoxxHempEqualMarijuana
Rouzer was a signatory to a letter to Mike Crapo, the chair of the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday, thanking him for proposing a series of restrictive changes to a House-passed bill to provide marijuana businesses with greater access to financial services.
Bishop was a signatory to a letter to Mike Crapo, the chair of the Senate Banking Committee...thanking him for proposing a series of restrictive changes to a House-passed bill to provide marijuana businesses with greater access to financial services.
The Carolina Journal 8/18/2023: Cherokee people should say no to pot
"To allow our citizens to travel only a few miles to buy and use this common gateway drug — which the CDC and the New England Journal of Medicine have said can result in short- and long-term danger of addiction, altered brain development, chronic psychosis disorders, and others — would be irresponsible. And I intend to stop it."
“Marijuana does not treat the ill, but only masks the symptoms,” he said.
Carolina Democracy Interview 7/18/22:
"And with medical marijuana that was a really interesting bill too, because it wasn't just everybody, I think said everything's so partisan, right? So Democrats versus the Republicans. Now if you've looked at that medical marijuana vote, there are a number of Democrats and Republicans who do not support of course medical marijuana and some that do. And so that was interesting because you have to find members and you have to actually communicate, God forbid, with all of the legislators to see where they stand on that. So the Senate, we were very proud to pass both of those out, but unfortunately medical marijuana is also not likely to move anytime soon in the House, given some of the members and leadership over there that are not supportive of it."
Today, the North Carolina Senate passed the Compassionate Care Act, medical cannabis. While I believe this bill doesn’t go far enough, I was happy to support a proposal to provide relief and comfort to our fellow North Carolinians. It’s now up to the House. Onward.
Opponents, who included Sen. Joyce Krawiec, R-Forsyth, expressed concern that SB711 will: serve as a gateway to legalized marijuana in North Carolina by 2024; that the licensing fee for vendors is too low; that a license should not be allowed to be sold; and that the potential profit levels need to be lowered.
“This is a medical cannabis bill,” Sen. Paul Lowe (D-Forsyth), one of the bill’s lead sponsors, said on the Senate floor Thursday. “It’s not recreational. It does not do all of the things a recreational bill would do, and that’s for another day. But right now, I believe this bill will help some North Carolinians.”
Sen. Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe) requested to amend the bill for in-state growers and retailers to participate in the medical marijuana trade. “This is a bill that the public clearly wants, but it is not quite there yet,” said Mayfield who ultimately voted against it.
State Sen. Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe County) told WNCN-TV that “no North Carolina company can get one of the licenses.”
Democratic Sen. Julie Mayfield has expressed concerns with the vertical structure, saying that only large corporations would be able to afford to compete and that the state’s hemp businesses would be shut out.
Mayfield filed an amendment that would require the commission to issue dozens of separate grower, processing and retail licenses, but lawmakers tabled that amendment.
Dixon called marijuana a “hellish gateway drug,”
WRAL 6/12/22:
Shortly after the medical marijuana bill cleared the Senate, GOP House Speaker Tim Moore said he opposes the legislation and doesn’t plan to consider it as the legislative session winds down this month. He also declined to say whether his chamber would hold a vote in the future.
“I want to see where our folks are on it. I really do,” Moore said. “That one has just kind of been thrown down, and I don't see an appetite to take that up in the shorter session. As far as the long session, I won't say one way or the other."
See John Ager for details on positions/votes