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NC medical marijuana bill: Critics say it caters to major suppliers, not local growers


Workers pull leaves off a cannabis plants as they harvest them at a marijuana farm operated by Greenlight, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Grandview, Mo. Critics of the proposed NC Senate Bill 711, The Compassionate Care Act, said it requires conditions that can only be met by large-monied interests and would leave out local North Carolina growers. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Workers pull leaves off a cannabis plants as they harvest them at a marijuana farm operated by Greenlight, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Grandview, Mo. Critics of the proposed NC Senate Bill 711, The Compassionate Care Act, said it requires conditions that can only be met by large-monied interests and would leave out local North Carolina growers. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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Once again, the legalization of medical marijuana is expected to be considered by the North Carolina state legislature.

Senate Bill 711, The Compassionate Care Act, passed the state Senate in June, but the bill stalled in the House in July and was considered dead.

Now, however, it is expected to be reintroduced in the Senate on Nov. 18, riding a wave of renewed momentum in the wake of President Joe Biden’s pardon of those with small possession marijuana convictions.

But the renewed effort faces a more local challenge than previous efforts. According to critics, the current version of the Senate bill favors out-of-state suppliers of medical marijuana and not local growers.

“It (the bill) doesn’t allow for local farmers the way that we need it to. It doesn’t allow for the people that we want to benefit from this program,” North Carolina marijuana legalization activist Chris Suttle said.

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So far, 37 states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana. As a result, a multi-billion dollar medical marijuana industry of corporate suppliers has come to dominate the industry. Among the top suppliers are Cresco Industries, Green Thumb, Curaleaf and Miracle Grow.

Critics said the proposed Senate bill requires conditions that can only be met by large-monied interests and would leave out local North Carolina growers.

“There’s a lot of things in the bill that, yes, are set up to benefit a bigger corporation versus a small farmer,” Suttle said.

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All seven sponsors of the current bill were contacted for this story. None responded.

The Compassionate Care Act would allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana for the treatment of cancer, Crohn’s Disease, Parkinson’s, PTSD and other serious medical conditions.

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