North Carolina's medical marijuana bill picked up pages of new oversight language Thursday, setting the stage for regulations "like nothing we’ve seen in the rest of the country," according to sponsoring Sen. Michael Lee, R-New Hanover.

Senate Bill 711's primary goal remains intact, though: Legalize prescription marijuana for a range of serious medical problems, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder and to help end-of-life pain or nausea.

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The bill has one more committee stop before it heads to the Senate floor for a full-chamber vote, but the bill's lead sponsor chairs that committee. A number of social conservatives oppose the measure, but it has moved steadily through a gauntlet of committees, a strong signal the bill will pass the full Senate and head to the House for more debate.

Critics worried in Thursday's Senate Health committee that the relatively restrictive measure, allowing only 10 suppliers to open four dispensaries each, will eventually lead to full legalization. Sen. Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell, part of the Republican majority leadership in the Senate, said the bill is "not about patients … this is about placing North Carolina on a path.”

Lawmakers heard, though, from multiple patients who pleaded with them to pass the bill, saying cannabis has helped them cope with pain, trauma and debilitating disease. Hise said people pushing legalization "use those who are suffering from these serious diseases to further their agenda."

Lee said the effort is about medicine, not full legalization. There are people who know medical marijuana "works for them and improves their quality of life," he said.

Senate Bill 711 would let doctors prescribe marijuana for the following conditions:

  • Cancer
    • Epilepsy
      • HIV/AIDS
        • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
          • Crohn's disease
            • Sickle cell anemia
              • Parkinson's disease
                • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
                  • Multiple sclerosis
                    • Cachexia or wasting syndrome
                      • Severe or persistent nausea "related to end-of-life or hospice care," or in someone who is bedridden or homebound
                        • A terminal illness when the patient's remaining life expectancy is less than six months
                          • Any condition when the patient is in hospice care

                            The bill also allows for expansion, creating a "Compassionate Use Advisory Board" and empowering it to "any other serious medical condition" to this list.

                            The amendments added Thursday tinker with the state's regulatory structure and added a new rule requiring dispensary employees to be at least 21 years old. The bill also says these "medical cannabis centers" could sell only cannabis products and paraphernalia, which can't be visible from outside the shop.

                            The shops can open only from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and must be at least 1,000 feet from churches, schools, child care facilities and community colleges or public universities.

                            Supplier licenses would cost $50,000, with an annual $10,000 renewal. Several lawmakers say the price is too low and that language should be added to the bill forbidding people from reselling licenses, which have sold in other states for millions of dollars.

                            Sen. Joyce Kraviec, R-Forsyth, called the current license fees in the bill "extremely low."