North Carolina’s Senate President Phil Berger expressed this week that the likelihood of lawmakers legalizing recreational marijuana in this session is slim. However, he did leave open the possibility for advancements in medical cannabis legislation. Berger noted that the Senate, which has previously passed medical marijuana bills, will defer to the House of Representatives for now.
In a recent interview with local TV station WXII 12 in Raleigh, Berger stated, “I don’t know that the Senate will be passing anything initially in this session. I think we’re going to wait and see what comes out of the House.” Currently, two measures have been introduced: Senate Bill S350, which proposes a system for both medical and adult-use marijuana, and House Bill H413, which seeks to legalize only recreational marijuana.
Despite his reservations about full legalization, Berger indicated there is likely majority support in the Senate specifically for a medical-only bill. He emphasized, “I don’t see that there is any chance of full legalization of recreational marijuana. I do think there continues to be discussion about medical marijuana.” He also pointed out that the Senate has passed medical marijuana legislation on multiple occasions and believes support for such measures remains strong.
Advocates for cannabis reform are hopeful that the legislative landscape will become clearer in the coming weeks. Kevin Caldwell, Southeast legislative manager for the Marijuana Policy Project, expressed surprise at the absence of a strictly medical cannabis bill this session, highlighting the House’s role as a significant hurdle in recent years. Caldwell mentioned, “I think there was a hope that a bill would come out of the House,” noting that the session still has time for potential developments.
Senator Bill Rabon, who chairs the Senate Rules Committee and has been a strong advocate for medical marijuana, has seen his bills pass the Senate in the past but has faced challenges in the House. House Speaker Destin Hall indicated about a month ago that House Republicans might be more open to considering medical marijuana legislation this session, although he did not specify any upcoming bills, suggesting that proposals would likely come from the Senate.
Public support for cannabis reform appears strong, with a poll conducted in February showing that 71 percent of likely voters in North Carolina back the legalization of medical marijuana. This support spans across party lines and most demographics, except for individuals over the age of 80.
Additionally, lawmakers are also interested in hemp regulation. Berger mentioned earlier this year that there might be opportunities to address both medical marijuana and hemp-derived cannabinoids during the session. Last summer, the Senate approved a medical marijuana bill, which ultimately stalled in the House, mirroring previous proposals from Rabon, a cancer survivor committed to increasing patient access.
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