On the Record: Medical marijuana
>> MARIJUANA, WE NEED DOUBLES
LETTERS.
>> NO MATTER WHAT YOU CALL IT,
EAGLE IN NORTH CAROLINA, NOT
EVEN FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES.
THIS IS WHAT THE FIGHT TO
LEGALIZE MEDICINAL USE. LOOK
LIKE 8 MONTHS
WILLING ALL I WANT FOR ANY
ARGUMENT AGAINST THAT. THE
PUBLIC HEALTH RISK FOR A MERE
AND DRUG ABUSE AND ADDICTION.
CHANGES IN BRAIN FUNCTION,
LEGALIZING MEDICINAL MARIJUANA
MIGHT HAVE A BETTER CHANCE THIS
YEAR. LET'S TALK ABOUT WHY WITH
A RECORD.
>> AS YOU JOIN ME FOR THIS
EPISODE OF ON THE RECORD, I'M
CHRIS LOVINGOOD. BUT MARIJUANA
IS AGAIN BEING DISCUSSED AMONG
STATE LAWMAKERS AS IT WAS LAST
YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE.
AND SO ONE MANAGING PAIN IS ONE
OF THE MOST COMMON USES FOR
PEOPLE USING MEDICINAL
MARIJUANA. BUT THERE ARE OTHER
REASONS PEOPLE TURN TO IT,
INCLUDING POST TRAUMATIC STRESS
DISORDER WILL HEAR FROM A
VETERAN ABOUT THAT JUST A BIT.
BUT FIRST, I WANT TO START WITH
DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR PAUL
LOWE CENTER. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR JOINING THIS IS THANK YOU.
A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC. YOU
INTRODUCED SENATE BILL 3, AKA
THE NC COMPASSIONATE CARE ACT
TO LEGALIZE MEDICINAL
MARIJUANA. SO FIRST LAY OF THE
LAND FOR ME. WHAT EXACTLY DOES
THIS BILL DO?
THIS BILL PROVIDES AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SOME FOLKS
IN NORTH CAROLINA. THAT'S
ULTIMATELY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
DO WITH THIS BILL.
>> WE HAVE
LOOKED AT MARIJUANA AND ITS
MEDICAL USE AND OTHER STATES.
>> AND WHEN WE BEGIN TO LOOK AT
IT, WE BEGAN TO SAY, HEY, IT
CAN HELP SOME FOLKS AND OUR
STATE AS WELL. I KNOW ABOUT
THE STIGMA OF IT. BUT IF IT
CAN HELP SOMEONE THROUGH
VARIOUS WITH VARIOUS CONDITIONS
WITH VARIOUS MEDICAL PROBLEMS.
WE NEED TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE
FOR THE PEOPLE OF OUR STATE.
WE'RE GOING TO THE STIGMA IN
JUST A BIT. BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS
IS A CONVERSATION THAT HAS BEEN
HAD AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR
YEARS. AND I'M WONDERING WHAT
IS THE LIKELIHOOD THIS TIME
THIS TIME WE COULD ACTUALLY SEE
MEDICINAL MARIJUANA LEGALIZED
NORTH CAROLINA. WELL, I THINK
BOTH CHAMBERS.
DELIBERATED OVER IT AND TALKED
ABOUT IT IN. THOROUGHLY VETTED.
AND NOW IT'S THE TIME FOR US
TO MAKE THIS PRODUCT AVAILABLE
FOR THOSE THAT MAY NEED IN OUR
STATE ESSENTIAL SOME POINT A
LITTLE BIT AGO. BUT ELABORATE,
YOU KNOW, WHY IS THIS SOMETHING
IT NEEDS TO BE LEGALIZED?
AND RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, WE'VE
HEARD FROM PEOPLE THAT SAY IT
HELPS THEM WHEN IT COMES TO
MANAGING PAIN
>> IT HELPS THEM WITH CERTAIN
OTHER CONDITIONS AS WELL.
BUT WHAT'S YOUR PUSH? WHAT'S
YOUR YOUR YOUR WAY TO ADDRESS?
PEOPLE SAY, HEY, WE NEED TO
HAVE THIS LEGAL GUYS? WELL, ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT WE DEAL DID
LOOK AT EASE PAIN MANAGEMENT
WE LOOKED AT CANCER ONE OF THE
BILL SPONSORS AS A CANCER
SURVIVOR
AND IT HE'S HELPED PERSONS DEAL
WITH PAIN. MANY OF US FEEL LIKE
IT'S FAR SAFER. THEN THE OPIATE
AND WE KNOW ABOUT THE OPIATE
PROBLEM. ALL ACROSS THE
COUNTRY. AND EVEN IN THIS
STATE. SO WE WANTED TO LOOK AT
OTHER STATES HAVE CONSIDERED IT
AND HAVE IT.
LEGALIZED IT FOR MEDICAL USE
AND WE FEEL LIKE IT'S A GOOD
THING FOR MEDICAL USE HERE IN
NORTH CAROLINA, A NORTH
CAROLINA IS ONE OF 13 STATES
WHERE MEDICINAL USE IS NOT
LEGAL. YOU KNOW, THIS IS
SOMETHING OF COURSE, THAT
PEOPLE CONTINUE TO WATCH TO SEE
WHAT WILL THE STATE DO. SO
HOUSE SPEAKER TIM MOORE, IT
SAID, QUOTE, THERE IS SOME
SUPPORT FOR RICK FIRST,
SOMETHING WHERE THERE'S DOCTORS
INVOLVED IN WHERE THERE'S TIGHT
CONTROLS AND PHARMACEUTICAL
INVOLVEMENT. NOW, WHEN YOU HEAR
THAT, HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU
THAT THE BILL COULD GO FURTHER?
BECAUSE I BELIEVE LAST YEAR
THINK YOU TOUCHED A LITTLE BIT.
IT PASSED ON THE SENATE, BUT IT
DIDN'T QUITE MAKE IT TO THE
HOUSE FLOOR. WELL, I THINK THAT
IT THAT ONE WILL BEGIN TO LOOK
AT THIS BILL. WE BEGIN TO LOOK
AT OTHER STATES AROUND THE
COUNTRY.
LEGALIZED CANNABIS FOR MEDICAL
USE. AND WHEN WE BEGIN TO LOOK
AT THAT, WE ALSO BEGIN TO LOOK
AT THE LAWS SURROUNDING IT TO
SEE WHAT WOULD BE BEST FOR OUR
STATE. AND AS YOU BEGIN TO LOOK
AT THE BILL.
WE WE FEEL LIKE WE'VE CREATED
A GOOD DEAL THAT WILL DO THE
THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY.
FOR OUR STATE AND TO MAKE
ACCESS FOR SOME OF THOSE THEY
NEEDED IN OUR STATE. NO.
WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD PERSONALLY
ABOUT THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST
LEGALIZING IT? MAYBE PEOPLE
SAYING, YOU KNOW, THIS MAY LEAD
TO, YOU KNOW, THIS HAPPENED
NEAR THAT HAPPENING. ONE, OF
COURSE, I'VE HEARD I HEARD SOME
OF EVERYTHING I LISTENED TO
SOME OF EVERYTHING AND ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT WE WE WE HAVE
TO LOOK AT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN
THEY LOOK AT MARIJUANA, THEY
THINK OF SOMEBODY SMOKING A
MARIJUANA CIGARETTE OR
SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
WHEN WE LOOK
AT OPIATES.
>> OPIATES
>> WE USE THEM ALMOST IN EVERY
AREA OF AN OPERATION. IF YOU
GET AN OPERATION, THEY PROBABLY
USED AN OPIATE TO DEAL WITH
THE PAINT.
>> AND IT'S STANDARD MEDICAL
PRACTICE TO USE SOME OF THOSE
OPIATES, WHICH ARE VERY
DANGEROUS.
VERY DANGEROUS, VERY ADDICTIVE.
BUT THE THINGS IT HAVE TO BE
USED FROM TIME TO TIME FOR
OPERATIONS FOR THE KINDS OF
MEDICAL PRACTICES.
>> MARIJUANA. DOES NOT HAVE
THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW, THAT'S
NOT TO SAY THAT ANY MEDICINE
HAS ITS PROBLEMS.
ANY MEDICATION, ALL OF THEM.
>> IF USED INCORRECTLY CAN BE
DANGEROUS. AND I WANT TO JUMP
OFF THAT POINT FOR A LITTLE BIT
BECAUSE IN THE SHOW OPENED, AS
WE HEARD FROM JERRY ROYAL WITH
THE NC FAMILY POLICY COUNCIL.
HE SAID, QUOTE, THE PUBLIC
HEALTH RISK ARE IMMENSE DRUG
ABUSE AND ADDICTION. AND THEN
HE WENT ON TO SAY WE DIDN'T
PLAY THE WHOLE THING, BUT HE
SAYS CHANGE IN BRAIN FUNCTION,
LUNG DISEASE, INTOXICATION, AND
IMPAIRED DRIVING. BUT SOME OF
MY LISTEN TO THAT GO. WELL, YOU
KNOW, ALCOHOL CAN LEAD TO YOU
DOING SOME OF THAT. THE
IMPAIRED DRIVING INTOXICATION
AND CETERA. AND THIS IS A
SUBSTANCE THAT PEOPLE MINUTE
I'M INES, A MARIJUANA USE.
THEY'RE SAYING IT HELPS THEM
WITH THEIR PAIN AND HELPS THEM
DEAL WITH WHAT THEY'RE GOING
THROUGH. PTSD. EPILEPSY, THINGS
LIKE THAT. YES,
EPILEPSY. THAT'S A GOOD ONE
TO BRING UP BECAUSE I THINK
THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE KNOWN
PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD TO DEAL
WITH EPILEPSY HAVE SEEN WHAT
THEY GO THROUGH AND IF THIS
IS SOMETHING THAT CAN HELP
THEM. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
CAN HELP SOME OF OUR CITIZENS.
I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT.
I THINK WE OWE IT TO OUR
CITIZENS TO LOOK AT IT BECAUSE
IT'S BEING DONE IN OTHER STATES
AND THIS IS AND IF IT'S GOOD
ENOUGH FOR SOME OF THESE OTHER
STATES, I THINK IT'S GOOD
ENOUGH FOR OUR CITIZENS AS
WELL. AND THAT'S ONE POINT I'M
THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IF
SOMEBODY IS DOCTOR SAYS, HEY,
YOU KNOW, YOU MAY WANT TO
CONSIDER IF THERE'S A WAY FOR
YOU TO ACCESS ADDITIONAL
MARIJUANA OBVIOUSLY CAN'T DO
THAT HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.
BUT
>> IF YOU SEE OTHER PEOPLE
SAYING, YES, IT'S HELPED ME.
IT HELPED ME DEAL WITH IT.
SOME PEOPLE MAY ARGUE WHY DON'T
YOU GIVE PEOPLE THE CHOICE TO
DO WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR THEM
TO HELP THEM DEAL WITH WHATEVER
CONDITION THAT THEY'RE DOING
WITH.
THAT'S THAT'S JUST ONE OF MANY
ARGUMENTS. I THINK THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK
AT IN THIS STATE. AND WE HAVE
TO LOOK AT FOR THE BETTERMENT
OF OUR CITIZENS. THEY'VE BEEN
WORKING ON THIS FOR A WHILE.
I WONDER WHAT WHAT STORIES HAVE
YOU HEARD FROM PEOPLE THAT COME
AND SAY, HEY, CAN YOU DO
WHATEVER YOU CAN TO MAKE I
HEARD ONE THIS MORNING. I HAVE
I'M HEARING THEM OVER AND OVER.
>> AND OVER AGAIN AND CERTAINLY
I HERE HEAR THIS A LOT FROM
VETERANS WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH
A LOT TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY.
AND IF THIS WILL HELP THEM, WE
NEED TO HELP OUR VETERANS AND
SOMETHING GOOD THAT YOU
CONTINUE TO WORK ON AND WE'LL
SEE IF IT ACTUALLY DOES THE IF
IT'S ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED THIS
YEAR. AND YOU MENTION A
VETERAN, WHICH IS THE PERFECT
JUMPING-OFF POINT BECAUSE AS WE
EXPLORE WHERE THE EFFORT TO
LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS
HEADED.
>> WE DO WANT TO HEAR FROM
SOMEONE A VETERAN WHO HAS BEEN
ADVOCATING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
WE'LL TALK WITH HIM ON THE
THANKS FOR STAYING WITH US.
WE'RE GOING TO REENTER THE
CONVERSATION ABOUT MEDICAL
MARIJUANA. BUT FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE FROM SOMEONE WHO
HAS ADVOCATED FOR JOSH BENNETT
JOINS ME NOW VIA ZOOM. HE LIVES
IN SHELBY IN CLEVELAND COUNTY.
HE'S AN IRAQ WAR VETERAN WHO
SPENT 6 YEARS IN THE MARINE
CORPS WAS A POLICE OFFICER FOR
10 YEARS. JOSH, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR JOINING ME TODAY.
THANK YOU, CHRIS. SO, JOSH,
YOU'VE DEALT WITH PTSD AND PACK
PAIN. CAN YOU JUST TALK ABOUT
HOW BAD WERE THE CONDITION
WHERE YOU FELT THAT YOU GOT TO
THE POINT WE NEED TO START
ADVOCATING FOR LEGALIZING
MEDICINAL MARIJUANA.
>> WELL, IT WAS A SLOW PROCESS
FOR ME OF IT COMING TO RETIRE.
A LAW ENFORCEMENT YOU KNOW,
THE FOLLOWING COUPLE YEARS AS
WELL. A LOT OF THAT REALLY
SHOWED UP FOR ME
GETTING INTO THE BA. HE'S, YOU
KNOW, THE VA SYSTEM.
AND BOUNCING AROUND THAT WHEN
YOU'RE ALL JUST STUNNED.
YOU KNOW, THE PAIN MANAGEMENT
CLINIC THAT TOUCHED OFF.
AND DEFINITELY HAD SOME SOME
TOTALS THAT WORKED.
BUT YOU STILL HAVE A LOT OF
ISSUES THAT WERE, YOU KNOW,
IMPACTED.
AFTER DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH
HELPING OTHERS OTHER
FORMER, YOU KNOW, FIRST
RESPONDERS, POLICE OFFICERS.
I DECIDED TO START
INCORPORATING IT. YOU KNOW, AS
NEEDED BASIS WITH. SEVERE PAIN
FLARE YOU KNOW, WITH WITH ME,
I'VE GOT NUMEROUS HERNIATED
THIS SPINAL STENOSIS.
IT. SO THAT'S ALWAYS AN ISSUE
THAN THAT.
THAT PLAYS INTO THE, YOU KNOW,
THE CAREER I HAD THE THE THING
16 YEARS OF. TOSS THE STRESS
DEALING WITH RACK LAW
ENFORCEMENT, STREET STREET
LEVEL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
>> YOU KNOW, JUST WE TALK TO
YOU A WHILE BACK AND AT THE
TIME YET INDICATED THAT YOU ARE
ON 23, DIFFERENT MEDICATIONS AT
ONE POINT JUST TO DEAL WITH
SOME OF THE THINGS YOU WERE
JUST TALKING ABOUT. ANY
IMPROVEMENT SINCE THAT TIME.
WE LAST TALKED.
>> OH,
AND I REALLY DIDN'T EVEN
REALIZE THAT HAVE BEEN
DESCRIBED THAT MUCH, THOUGH.
THE VA HAS A SYSTEM. ARE YOU
GOING TO, YOU KNOW?
RE? WHAT ARE YOUR MEDICATIONS,
THAT TYPE STUFF AND THEN MY
WIFE ARE LOOKING AT THOSE.
BUT HOLY COW. THIS IS 23
DIFFERENT. YOU KNOW, THINGS
THAT. I GUESS THAT WAS PROBABLY
37, 38 YEARS OLD.
IT. BUT NOW, YOU KNOW,
DEFINITIONS INCORPORATING IT
ALONG WITH ALL THAT, YOU KNOW,
THE PAIN MANAGEMENT, THE
PSYCHOTHERAPY SIDE OF THAT
IS DEFINITELY WELL AT THIS
POINT. YOU SAID YOU'VE GOT SOME
NEW TOOLS THAT HAS HELPED YOU
THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
>> SO HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE
LATEST VERSION OF THE NC
COMPASSIONATE CARE ACT?
YES, THAT SO WHAT DO YOU THINK
ABOUT IT? ANYTHING THAT NEEDS
TO BE CHANGED ADDED ANYTHING
THAT SORT.
>> LOOKING AT AS FAR AS
CONDITIONS THAT QUALIFY.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WITH IT A LOT
OF THE KEY ONES. E I UNDERSTAND
SOME OF THE I GUESS THE
QUESTION SURROUNDING THE
CHRONIC PAIN TYPE
QUALIFICATION. I THINK THERE'S
WAYS AROUND THAT WITH, YOU
KNOW, AT THIS EVIDENCE YOU
KNOW, IMAGING DIAGNOSTICS, THAT
TYPE STUFF, YOU KNOW, MRIS,
X-RAYS, A LOT OF THAT TYPE
STUFF ARE GOING TO CONFIRM
THAT, YOU KNOW, PERSON. IT'S
GOING TO HAVE CONTINUOUS I
THINK.
SEVERAL PEOPLE. THAT HAVE USED
IT FOR INSOMNIA. YOU KNOW,
THAT'S ANOTHER VERY THING
COURSE IN SONG AS A SIDE EFFECT
OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT MAY
THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS LIKE
THAT. I'D LIKE TO SEE THEY LIKE
UNDER THE POST TRAUMATIC STRESS
THAT THEY'VE INCLUDED.
HAMMER, YOU KNOW, FIRST BISHOP
ROSS, THE AMOUNT OF FEDERAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT THAT HAVE REACHED
OUT TO ME AND TALK ABOUT IT.
AND THAT'S SAYING, YOU KNOW,
BENEFIT. YOU KNOW, THE U.S. AND
AGAIN, THIS IS THAT AS NEEDED
BY SUSSEX AND MEDICAL
APPLICATIONS. NOT TALKING ABOUT
YOU KNOW.
HEAVY DAILY USE THAT TYPE.
SO THAT REALLY JUST DEPENDS ON
THE INDIVIDUAL
>> HELPING THEM DEAL WITH,
ESPECIALLY WITH WORKING ON A
HIGH STRESS SITUATION. IN YOUR
CASE, YOU KNOW, YOUR MILITARY
AND YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN
TERMS OF UNCERTAINTY FROM
PEOPLE ABOUT LEGALIZING FOR
MEDICINAL USE, THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTE OF HEALTH OF A
REFERENCE TO STUDY WERE ABOUT
50% OF PATIENTS WITH CANNABIS
PSYCHOSIS, CONVERTED TO
SCHIZOPHRENIA OR BIPOLAR
DISORDER. AND ONE IN TREE.
THAT'S ON THE JOURNAL OF
PSYCHIATRY PSYCHIATRY AND
NEUROSCIENCE SAYS THERE'S STILL
A LOT THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED
AT WHEN IT COMES TO TREATING
PTSD AND OTHER CONDITIONS.
BUT AS YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAY
IT WORKS.
>> YEAH. AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE
AWARE THAT THOSE ISSUES CAN
CAN COME ABOUT. I KNOW THAT,
YOU KNOW, SOME TEMPORARY
PSYCHOSIS IS DUE TO THE DOSING
AMOUNT. THAT IS WHERE, YOU
KNOW, A STRICT MEDICAL
CONTROLLED.
PROGRAM WHERE YOU HAVE A
POSITION INVOLVED. YOU HAVE A
FORM SAYS INVOLVED OF THEY'RE
THE DISPENSARIES. ARE THAT'S
GOING TO BE HUGE OWN, YOU KNOW,
KIND OF BALANCING OUT. THAT'S
JUST A STATISTIC. I KNOW YOU,
YOU KNOW, RESEARCH AND THE U.S.
HAS BEEN VERY LIMITED. DUE TO
THE IT WILL GET OUT OF THE OF
THE FEDERAL LEVEL WITH THE FDA
AND APPLICATIONS.
AND IT IS REAL, YOU KNOW, HAS
BEEN A A HUGE PROPONENT.
A LOT OF PROMISING STUDIES THAT
COME FROM. THEY ARE ESPECIALLY
WITH.
PUSH DRAMATIC TYPE STUFF WITH,
OF COURSE, WHAT THEIR CHURCH
GOT. THE SURE.
>> YOU KNOW, YOU TOUCHED A
LITTLE BIT ON THE RESEARCH
ASPECT OF EVEN WHEN I WAS
LOOKING INTO THIS DOING MY OWN
RESEARCH INTO IT. YOU KNOW,
THERE WERE THERE'S LIMITED
STUDIES THEY HAVE TO IN TERMS
OF THE EFFICACY OF ACTUALLY
USING MEDICINAL MARIJUANA TO
HELP WITH PTSD AND OTHER
CONDITIONS. WHAT DO YOU THINK
NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR THE UNITED
STATES TO MAYBE INCREASE THE
NUMBER OF STUDIES THAT ARE
BEING DONE, MAYBE GET MORE
PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO
PARTICIPATE IN STUDIES.
>> I THINK THERE'S DEFINITELY
PLENTY OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW,
WILLING TO PARTICIPATE,
ESPECIALLY AS
THE YOU KNOW, THE BIG THING
WITH CANNABIS WAS SAYING IS
IT'S A THE HAS ORIGINATED FROM,
YOU KNOW, THE THE MARIJUANA
MADNESS AGE.
SO A LOT OF BREAKING THAT
STAYING WITH THEIR STAPLE.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO,
YOU KNOW, WILL PARTICIPATE IN
THESE TYPE STUDIES. BUT WHEN
IT'S CONTROLLED TO FDA, FDA AND
DEA REGULATION. YOU KNOW, IT'S
IT'S BEEN VERY TOUGH FOR WHAT
I'VE SEEN AND READ FROM, YOU
KNOW, UNIVERSITY'S RESEARCH
FACILITIES TO. TO BE ABLE TO
DO, YOU KNOW?
TRUE MEDICAL ALL YOU SEE IS
NEGATIVES COMING OUT BASED OFF
OF. YOU KNOW, STATISTICS ARE
OVERDOSED. STATISTICS THAT TYPE
OF STUFF. BUT THERE'S NOT
REALLY BEEN A LOT THAT I'VE
SEEN.
IN THE UNITED STATES, THE
SPORES, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU
SAID, THE EFFICACY AND THE
BENEFIT.
>> NOW YOU TALKED ABOUT THE
LEGALITY OF ALL MARIJUANA STILL
IS A SCHEDULE. ONE DRUG, BUT
WE DO KNOW THAT LAST YEAR THE
MORE ACT OR THE MARIJUANA
OPPORTUNITY REINVESTMENT AND
EXPUNGEMENT ACT WAS PASSED IN
THE U.S. HOUSE BUT WOULD STILL
NEED TO GO FURTHER TO
DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA BY
REMOVING IT FROM THE LIST OF
SCHEDULED SUBSTANCES. DO YOU
THINK IT MEANS THAT NEEDS TO
HAPPEN? IT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED
FROM THAT SCHEDULE IS FOR MAYBE
THIS TO GO FORWARD SO THAT THE
LEGALITY PART OF IT ISN'T
REALLY MUCH AN ISSUE.
>> YEAH, I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW,
THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO I THINK
THAT THEY DO IS GO AHEAD AND
MOVE IT TO.
YOU KNOW, SCHEDULE AND MEANS
NO MEDICINAL BY AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL.
IT DEFINITELY IS THE
RESCHEDULED OR THEY'VE BEEN
THEY CRIMINALIZE, I GUESS AT
THAT LEVEL AND PUT IT BACK TO
THE STATES TO MAKE THEIR OWN
DECISION.
OF COURSE, I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY
I KNOW THAT'S GOING TO HAVE
TO HAPPEN. AS WELL AS I THINK
IT'S GOING TO BE BIG FOR THE
SAFE BANKING ACT. THAT'S BEEN
YOU KNOW, A CELL PHONE OF HIM
COMING HERE. CBD EVEN BANKING
FOR US HAS BEEN A THERE'S THERE
ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT ARE
GOING HAVE TO HAPPEN BEFORE WE
CAN GET INTO.
A LOT OF THE OPEN RESEARCH AND
WAYS TO ACCESS. I GUESS YOU
WOULD SAY IT.
>> SO, JOSH, IF YOU COULD
DIRECTLY ADDRESS STATE
LEGISLATURE'S ARE NOT ON BOARD
WITH THIS ABOUT LEGALIZING
MEDICINAL MARIJUANA, WOULD YOU
SAY TO THEM?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE POLLS
THAT WE'VE
WERE UPWARDS OF, YOU KNOW, THE
LOW 90% RANGE OF SUPPORT.
AMONG NORTH CAROLINIANS.
AND THAT'S EVEN IN THE MOST
CONSERVATIVE DISTRICTS.
YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, I'VE
HAD A COUPLE.
REPRESENTATIVES. THEY'VE BEEN
ONE OF MY DIRECT
REPRESENTATIVES THAT REFUSES TO
EVEN SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS THE
TOPIC. AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY.
YOU KNOW, WITH BOSTON VERY
REPUTABLE, YOU KNOW, FOLKS UP
THERE TO ADVOCATE AND THIS I'VE
GOT A COUPLE GUYS FROM CLAYTON
COUNTY, A FORMER GREEN ANOTHER
FORMER RETIRED.
MILITARY SLASH STATE TROOPER.
AND WE WILL BE COMING WITH US.
SO I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE THEY
WANT TO SIT DOWN AND LISTEN
OPEN MIND AND LEE.
AND LISTEN TO THE BENEFITS OF
THOSE A BUS I'VE SEEN FROM IT.
YOU KNOW, I THINK IF I DON'T,
IT'S JUST.
SHAME WHEN IT WAS KIND OF A
SHAME ON THEM. I THINK FOR ME,
I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY
HAS THEIR PERSONAL BASIS FOR
THAT. THERE'S PLENTY OF SUPPORT
OUT AMONG CONSTITUENTS THAT,
YOU KNOW, IT SHOULDN'T BE AN
ISSUE FOR HIM. LIKE YOU SAID,
THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR
IT IN THE BIG QUESTION FOR
PEOPLE SUCH AS JOSH BENNETT.
>> WHO WANT MEDICINAL MARIJUANA
LEGALIZED? WHAT'S NEXT? WE'RE
GOING TO TOUCH ON THAT. BUT
ALSO TALK ABOUT A GROUP OF
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO STAKE IN
THANKS FOR STAYING WITH US ON
THE RECORD. AS WE DISCUSS
MEDICINAL MARIJUANA. I WANT TO
BRING BACK SENATOR TO TALK
ABOUT WHAT'S NEXT IN THE
PROCESS FOR OUR STATE. SO WHAT
ARE THE NEXT STEPS FOR THE NC
COMPASSIONATE CARE ACT? WELL,
LIKE ALL BILLS IS GOING TO HAVE
TO GO A SERIES OF COMMITTEES.
I'M AND COMMITTEE HEARINGS.
WHAT I THINK WILL MAKE THIS
A LITTLE BIT EASIER IS IT'S
ALREADY BEEN TO THOSE
COMMITTEES ONCE SO BASICALLY
ESSENTIALLY HAVING THE SAME
THING. GO BACK THROUGH SOME OF
THOSE COMMITTEES BEFORE IT GOES
TO THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE AND
THEN WILL BE SENT OVER TO THE
HOUSE. YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT
AGO WE WERE TALKING TO JOSH
THAT A MILITARY VETERAN.
YOU SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, HE
WOULD LIKE TO SEE MAYBE A
LITTLE MORE EMPHASIS ON SOME
OTHER CONDITIONS ADDED INTO
THAT PARTICULAR ACT. AND SO I
WONDER WHAT KIND OF OTHER
FEEDBACK HAVE YOU RECEIVED FROM
PEOPLE WHO SAY THIS, THESE TO
BE ADDED OR CHANGED WE KNOW
THAT THERE'S GOING TO NEED TO
BE SOME TWEAKING FOR LACK OF
A BETTER TERM. AND SOME THINGS.
ED.
THEY MAY NOT BE IN THE BILL
NOW, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE TRYING
TO MOVE FORWARD WITH WHAT WE
HAVE. AND ADJUSTMENTS I'M SURE
WILL BE MADE. YOU KNOW, AS THE
DEBT AS THE DAYS GO. YOU'VE GOT
THE BALL ROLLING. YOU'RE KIND
OF SEE WHAT COMES WITH IN THAT
REGARD. AS I WAS LOOKING FOR
MORE INFORMATION FOR THIS AND
SET HEMP FARMERS HAVE ALSO
EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT
MAYBE FEELING LEFT OUT OF THE
PREVIOUS VERSION OF THIS BILL.
NOT ABLE TO CAPITALIZE ON.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS OF THEM?
ONCE AGAIN, THERE'S LOTS OF
THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME MORE
TWEAKING AS WE MOVE FORWARD
WITH THIS BILL. I MEAN, THIS IS
GOING TO HAVE TO BE.
IT'S LIKE NO, BILL IS A PERFECT
BILL. BUT THIS IS GETTING OFF
TO A GOOD START. FOR US TO HAVE
MEDICAL MARIJUANA AVAILABLE
FOR OUR CITIZENS THAT NEED IT.
AND AS YOU WELL WORTH THAT
PROCESS, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU
JUST KIND OF GET INTO STARTED.
WOULD YOU WELCOME HIM FARMERS
TO BE A PART OF THIS
CONVERSATION? HEAR FROM THEM
GETTING WHAT I'M ALREADY
HEARING SO I'M HEARING FROM
OKAY AND I APPRECIATE WHAT SO
MANY OF THEM HAVE TO ACT.
CHER. SO I KNOW WE'VE TALKED A
LOT ABOUT MEDICINAL USE, BUT
I'M WONDERING, YOU KNOW.
LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE, DO YOU
THINK THAT POSSIBLY ONE DAY
NORTH CAROLINA COULD VENTURE
INTO RECREATIONAL USE OF
MARIJUANA?
THAT'S SOMEONE ELSE'S BEAT?
MY BILL IS A MEDICAL MARIJUANA
BILL. AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH
WHERE I'M GOING TO STAY
FOCUSED, BUT I'M SURE SOME
POINT SOMEONE RIGHT AND MOVE
FORWARD. A RECREATIONAL BILL.
YOU HAD MENTIONED YOU ANOTHER
STATE LAWMAKERS WHEN IT COMES
TO MEDICINAL MARIJUANA. YOU
HAVE LOOKED AT OTHER STATES,
YOU KNOW, AND SEE WHAT THEY'VE
DONE. THINGS IN THAT REGARD.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO
BE NORTH CAROLINA SPECIFIC TO
MAYBE GET MORE PEOPLE ON BOARD
TO SAY YES, WE NEED TO PASS
THIS BILL. I THINK THAT THE BIG
US ENDURANCE TO THIS BILL IS
THE STIGMA ATTACHED TO
MARIJUANA.
THAT'S MY OWN PER SMALL BOXES
WE NEED TO BE DONE TO ACTUALLY
REDUCE THAT STIGMA.
I MENTIONED MAYBE YOU'RE I
THINK LIKE LIKE ALL THINGS LIKE
THAT, EDUCATION. I THINK THAT
THEY'RE VERY, OF COURSE, THERE
ARE VARIOUS STUDIES THAT COME
OUT. BUT I THINK THERE'S STILL
WORK TO BE DONE. IT. SO WORK TO
BE DONE AND I GUESS MY QUESTION
IS THIS REALISTICALLY, I KNOW
THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE DONE.
AND YOU SAID THIS YEAR, COULD
WE ACTUALLY SEE MEDICINAL
MARIJUANA LEGALIZED AFTER A
SESSION WITH A STATE LAWMAKERS
ARE EATING. IT STILL NEEDS A
LITTLE TIME. YES, THE GUESTS
FEEL CALM ABOUT THIS VERY
CONFIDENT. OKAY. IS THERE
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SAY
THAT I HAD ALREADY ASKED YOU
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