Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
As promised in an article today by Military Editor Drew Brooks, Army veteran and Republican David Hargitt Sr. of Cumberland County came to the N.C. General Assembly today to ask his fellow Republicans to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Hargitt is president of N.C. Ramp -- North Carolina Republicans Against Prohibition. They say marijuana offers relief for pain and other health issues so should be legalized for that purpose. The group includes military veterans who say marijuana helps them cope with chronic pain from service-related injuries, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
This group joined other marijuana-legalization groups for their day of buttonholing lawmakers, just as farmers and city officials did on Wednesday for their pet issues.
I saw about 150 advocates for pot legalization gathered in the auditorium at the Legislative Building for a forum on the issue. Others were going door-to-door to visit the lawmakers' offices.
They pushed for House Bill 78, the Enact Medical Cannabis Act, which would legalize medicinal use of cannabis. It is pending in one of the House judiciary committees.
Hargitt said in an interview today that almost all (but not all) the lawmakers he discusses this with are polite and listen with interest. They may not be immediately persuaded, he said, but he thinks some will change their minds when he gives them more information.
So far, only Democrats have sponsored the legislation, a hurdle in a legislature that is majority Republican.
Several legislators appeared at the marijuana forum. State Rep. Paul Luebke of Durham, a Democrat and a co-sponsor of House Bill 78, advised the advocates to contact the members of the House Judiciary I Committee and ask them to make sure the medical marijuana bill is brought up for consideration. Bills often die in committees because the chairmen refuse to give them a hearing.
News Moderator: @Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: People's Biz: Marijuana Day at the Legislature - Fayetteville Observer: Blog: People's Business
Author: Paul Woolverton
Contact: customerservice@fayobserver.com
Photo Credit: Paul Woolverton
Website: Fayetteville Observer: The Fayetteville Observer
Hargitt is president of N.C. Ramp -- North Carolina Republicans Against Prohibition. They say marijuana offers relief for pain and other health issues so should be legalized for that purpose. The group includes military veterans who say marijuana helps them cope with chronic pain from service-related injuries, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
This group joined other marijuana-legalization groups for their day of buttonholing lawmakers, just as farmers and city officials did on Wednesday for their pet issues.
I saw about 150 advocates for pot legalization gathered in the auditorium at the Legislative Building for a forum on the issue. Others were going door-to-door to visit the lawmakers' offices.
They pushed for House Bill 78, the Enact Medical Cannabis Act, which would legalize medicinal use of cannabis. It is pending in one of the House judiciary committees.
Hargitt said in an interview today that almost all (but not all) the lawmakers he discusses this with are polite and listen with interest. They may not be immediately persuaded, he said, but he thinks some will change their minds when he gives them more information.
So far, only Democrats have sponsored the legislation, a hurdle in a legislature that is majority Republican.
Several legislators appeared at the marijuana forum. State Rep. Paul Luebke of Durham, a Democrat and a co-sponsor of House Bill 78, advised the advocates to contact the members of the House Judiciary I Committee and ask them to make sure the medical marijuana bill is brought up for consideration. Bills often die in committees because the chairmen refuse to give them a hearing.
News Moderator: @Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: People's Biz: Marijuana Day at the Legislature - Fayetteville Observer: Blog: People's Business
Author: Paul Woolverton
Contact: customerservice@fayobserver.com
Photo Credit: Paul Woolverton
Website: Fayetteville Observer: The Fayetteville Observer
