The North Carolina Senate Health Care Committee on Thursday advanced the medical cannabis bill, moving it closer toward a vote in the full chamber, the Associated Press reports. The measure was approved on Tuesday by the Senate Judiciary Committee and could hit the Senate floor as soon as next week.
The Health Care Committee approved one amendment to the bill to increase the number of training hours for a physician recommending medical cannabis from three hours to 10.
The Judiciary Committee had added its own amendments, including banning medical cannabis smoking in public, while driving, and within 1,000 feet of schools and churches; narrowing the number of qualifying conditions, including removing language allowing physicians to recommend medical cannabis for any condition they deemed necessary not covered explicitly under the law; a provision allowing patients with a terminal condition and prognosis of fewer than six months to live; and adding a section outlining various requirements doctors will have to meet before recommending medical cannabis.
Under the proposal, a new North Carolina commission would issue 10 medical cannabis supplier licenses which would also allow them to open four dispensaries. The state would collect monthly fees from suppliers equal to 10% of gross revenues, the report says.
The bill only has one Senate committee remaining—the Rules and Operations Committee—before moving to the full chamber. The House has not yet considered the proposal.
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