This year’s elections will be key to whether North Carolina finally elects a legislature that is willing to pass medical cannabis legislation and/or improve its limited “decriminalization” law. In the governor’s race, legalization supporter Josh Stein (D) is squaring off against prohibitionist candidate Mark Robinson (R). Meanwhile, every seat in the state Senate and House are on the ballot. The results will be crucial to if — and how — North Carolina cannabis policy evolves.
To help inform voters, MPP has created this voting guide, where we ranked General Assembly candidates based on their support for creating a medical cannabis program and strengthening the state’s weak decriminalization law. It also includes comments – and sponsorship — for some candidates who support adult-use legalization. We graded candidates from A+ to F. The voter guide includes information from incumbents’ voting record on medical cannabis (Senate), bill sponsorship, and replies to our candidate survey.
Here are the questions we asked legislative candidates:
Thirty-eight states have passed laws allowing the doctor-advised medical use of cannabis. Do you support enacting a medical cannabis program in North Carolina to allow seriously ill and dying patients to use and safely access a limited amount of cannabis for medical purposes if their doctors recommend it?
Many states have replaced criminal penalties for possession of cannabis with a civil fine. North Carolina currently imposes a *criminal* fine on simple possession, which creates a criminal record that often stands in the way of getting housing, jobs, and an education. It also imposes possible jail time. Do you support changing the penalty for possession of modest amounts of cannabis from a criminal offense to a civil fine?
You can find your North Carolina state Senate and House district here. You can find your sample ballot here.
Mark Robinson (R) — D — The current lieutenant governor of North Carolina and a conservative pastor, Robinson has rarely addressed the cannabis issue. He has expressed “he is conflicted on medical cannabis but is open to a discussion.” He has not expressed any opinion on expanding North Carolina’s very weak decriminalization law implemented in the 1970's. He is also firmly opposed to legalization.
Background: North Carolina does not have a medical cannabis or adult-use legalization law. It has a weak decriminalization law which potentially avoids jail time but creates a record.
