Using marijuana for medical reasons is already legal in 38 states. Despite years of debate about it, North Carolina still isn't one of them - even though our exclusive WRAL News poll once again shows overwhelming support for it among every demographic group.
Using marijuana for medical reasons is already legal in 38 states. Yet after years of debate about it, North Carolina still isn't one of them - even though our WRAL News poll once again shows overwhelming support for it.
We asked 771 registered voters if medical marijuana should be legal in North Carolina.
70 percent said yes. 16 percent said no and 14 percent weren't sure.
The support crosses every demographic line - age, race, income and political affiliation. Even a majority of voters who identify themselves as very conservative and voters over 65 favor medical marijuana legalization.
That doesn't surprise Corey Stahl, a Raleigh woman who lives with Crohn's Disease. She said the drugs she was given to manage it over the years didn't work well for her.
"I'm someone who spent my lifetime on pharmaceuticals, and at one point was on over 30 pharmaceuticals," Stahl said. "I call it my pharmaceutical nightmare."
When she first tried cannabidiol, known as CBD, it worked so well for her that she went into the business.
Stahl and her husband own Modern Apotheca, a hemp dispensary and café in North Raleigh. It sells a dizzying array of hemp and THC products, from cookies to gummies to smokable hemp - even drinks they call "pottails."
Their customers don't exactly fit the stoner stereotype.
"Our leading demographic is definitely women, 45 plus, 45 to 65 plus, honestly," Stahl said.
Most are seeking help with medical problems, like cancer treatment side effects, PTSD, autoimmune problems, arthritis, chronic pain, anxiety and sleep disorders.
"A lot of customers are here to get relief from the cancer chemotherapy side effects. THC is fantastic for pain relief," Stahl said
Hemp and marijuana are the same plant, she explained. It's just a question of how much tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - the psychoactive ingredient - they can contain. Hemp can't have more than .3 percent.
"That is the only difference," Stahl said. "It's what keeps hemp, hemp and keeps marijuana, marijuana."
Supporters of medical marijuana have made that point to lawmakers over and over.
For several years, lawmakers have debated a bill to legalize medical marijuana for a very short list of conditions. Nonetheless, it's been stalled every session because of opposition from social conservatives who have persuaded state House Republicans to oppose it.
Even in the Senate, where it was championed by cancer survivor and senior Republican leader Senator Bill Rabon, some fellow Republicans spoke against it during floor debate in June.
"It's just a precursor to the legalization of recreational marijuana," warned Sen. Tom McInnis, R-Moore.
"Think very hard," agreed Sen. Norm Sanderson, R-Craven, "because this is a slippery slope."
If enacted, Rabon's bill would be actually be one of the most restrictive medical marijuana laws in the country. That's why Stahl isn't worried it would hurt her business.
"So many of the people that are finding relief from hemp and our products would not qualify for medical marijuana," Stahl told WRAL News. "So yes, I 100% support it, but I strongly believe that there is a need to keep both around."
The WRAL News Poll was conducted between Sept. 4 and Sept. 7 by Survey USA. It has a credibility interval of 4.2 percentage points on medical marijuana. A credibility interval is similar to a margin of error but takes into account more factors and is considered by some pollsters to be a more accurate measurement of statistical certainty.