CAROLINIANS
COMPASSIONATE CARE
for
BACKGROUND
Carolinians for Compassionate Care is a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization seeking to foster a more informed and compassionate approach to medical cannabis. Through comprehensive education and outreach efforts, this organization promotes the medical and economic benefits of medical cannabis as well as the importance of state-level autonomy over intrastate cannabis policymaking. Carolinians for Compassionate Care also engages in grassroots advocacy, mobilizing supporters to participate in policy discussions and legislative processes. Through these efforts, Carolinians for Compassionate Care works to cultivate a regulatory environment that prioritizes patient welfare and respects state autonomy. Bringing medical cannabis to North Carolina will help cancer patients, veterans, and small businesses across the state.
KEY POINTS
Medical Benefits of Medical Cannabis
Medicinal cannabis has gained recognition in recent years for its potential therapeutic benefits in managing a variety of medical conditions. One of the primary components of cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD), has been shown to effectively alleviate chronic pain and inflammation, making it a valuable alternative to traditional pain medications. Patients suffering from conditions such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and neuropathy have reported significant relief when using medicinal cannabis, allowing them to improve their quality of life without the often debilitating side effects associated with opioids and other pharmaceuticals. Additionally, studies indicate that cannabis may help reduce muscle spasms and seizures, particularly in patients with epilepsy and other neurological disorders.​
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Federal Rescheduling of Cannabis
The Biden Administration recently announced its intentions to reschedule cannabis from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug. Failure to act swiftly could result in the federal government seizing authority and dictating North Carolina’s cannabis policies. Though federal rescheduling acknowledges the medical benefits of cannabis, it does not provide a regulatory framework. This means the federal government will make their own rules and regulations putting states that failed to act at a competitive disadvantage. Federal rescheduling will also have implications for the way states regulate and prosecute current cannabis laws.
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Caring for Veterans
Many veterans experience chronic pain from injuries sustained in combat, and traditional pain management options often come with a host of side effects and the risk of addiction. Medicinal cannabis can provide effective pain relief without the same addictive properties as opioids, allowing veterans to manage their discomfort more safely and improve their overall quality of life. Furthermore, research suggests that cannabinoids can help alleviate the intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and hyperarousal symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), offering veterans a means to regain control over their mental well-being. By reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation, medical cannabis can serve as a complementary therapy in conjunction with traditional treatments such as counseling and medication.
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Economic Benefits
Medical cannabis would benefit North Carolina’s economy and ease the tax burden on hardworking North Carolinians. The national consumables market reached a value of $2.8 billion in 2023. In Arkansas, the state government saw almost $300 million in additional revenue due to the taxation of hemp, and North Carolina can expect to see more than that since the state has a greater population. Regulating medical cannabis and hemp products would generate significant tax revenue and create job opportunities in North Carolina.
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Protecting Public Health and Safety
Currently, the unregulated consumables market is a public health hazard. Regulation will keep hemp away from minors and others who should not have access and ensure purity and safety through testing of the hemp products. By including provisions for patient eligibility, we can also ensure that cannabis would remain limited and be the most restrictive for medical cannabis in the country.
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Regulation of Hemp and Kratom
With the Biden Administration moving to reclassify cannabis products at the federal level, states risk losing authority over their own laws and regulations. North Carolina needs to ensure consumable hemp and Kratom products are safely integrated into the market and eliminates accessibility for North Carolina minors.
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Preventing Youth Access
Currently, there are minimal restrictions to protect minors from consuming hemp and THC products. North Carolina needs to regulate products derived from hemp to prevent untested and potentially harmful substances from being sold, especially to children. Strict age restrictions making it unlawful to give, sell, or distribute consumable hemp products to individuals under 21 and penalties for non-compliance will ensure that medical cannabis and hemp products are kept out of the hands of minors.
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Ensuring Product Safety and Quality
Without regulation on these products, we risk dangerous and tainted products being distributed in our communities. With fentanyl and other illicit substances making their way into our neighborhoods, we must ensure that all consumable hemp products, which the Biden Administration will reclassify, meet our standards to keep our communities safe through mandatory and robust testing and certification.
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Comprehensive Enforcement and Penalties
North Carolina needs to seek the toughest regulation on medicinal cannabis in the country and to ensure that weak federal regulations do not trump North Carolina’s autonomy. Robust enforcement mechanisms and penalties for violations—including fines, license suspensions, and revocations for manufacturers and distributors who do not adhere to the regulations—will ensure compliance with the law and a high standard of safety and accountability in the market.
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