House Committee Kills Medical Marijuana Bill

[WorseBeforeBetter]

....

Nationwide, 23 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana use in some form. Many allow for medical use, as the North Carolina would contemplate. However, the drug remains illegal under federal law and is a still a hot-button issue for social conservatives.

"Legalizing marijuana for medical purposes is both unnecessary and a slippery slope," said Tammy Fitzgerald, executive director of the North Carolina Values Coalition. "We oppose House Bill 78. It could open the door to legalizing marijuana for recreational use."

Fitzgerald was one of three speakers to urge rejection of the medical marijuana bill, all of them representing socially conservative groups that frequently lobby lawmakers on issues ranging from abortion to alcohol control to gay marriage.

Issued killed for two years

During most debates in state House committees, a bill either passes with a favorable report or fails to meet that test. Even if it fails that vote, the issue is alive and can arise at other times.

The House Judiciary I Committee took the unusual step of issuing an "unfavorable report" on the bill. That has the effect of not only killing this particular piece of legislation but also blocking the House from considering any other measure that might carry a medical marijuana component. That motion passed on a voice vote. No member of the committee could be heard to vote against, and none challenged the ruling of the chairman, both indications that the vote was unanimous.

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Read more at http://www.wral.com/house-committee-kills-medical-marijuana-bill/14539191/#JzxVHmig47O4E1VP.99

Tammy Fitzgerald strikes again!

[Triana]

1. North Carolina continues moving bass-ackwards at warp speed.

With TeaPublican Koch puppets at the Helm(s).

[WorseBeforeBetter]

2. Nice wordplay! (n/t)

[Digit]

3. I am late to the party but....

What I would like to see is the legalization of marijuana or it's components for medicinal use. Unfortunately, North Carolina is too backward to ever do anything so progressive.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

5. I'd like it legalized, Colorado-style.

There are many fine progressives in this state, but we're up against the good ol' boy network also in this state.

[wildeyed]

4. We should legalize it and then grow it here.

I read that NC has a good climate for hemp. So does that mean we could grow high quality pot too? We have all those old tobacco fields and rampant unemployment in those areas. This could be something really big for them too.

We need the jobs from the production end, i addition to the good the product can do medically. No one ever talks about that. If we could put some SBA-type loan programs in place first, and give locals first shot at the market, bet we could do some serious economic good. Eventually, it will become fully legal. Would be great if we could keep those jobs and tax $$$ in state.

We might get much better traction in conservative districts if we explained that the industry could bring back $20+ an hour jobs and profitable family businesses.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

6. All sounds very reasonable to me.

I'm not a creative ad/marketing person, but think of what could be done with "former tobacco and current weed state," small businesses, better wages, rural communities coming back to life, etc. It really is a no-brainer.

I get a kick out of the guy on the right from February's HKonJ march:



Can't think of a topic that wasn't covered!