GOP Senator, Cancer Survivor Who Used Medical Marijuana Urges Reform Before It's Too Late

Republican Senator Bill Rabon made a last-ditch legislative maneuver to ensure that his medical marijuana bill becomes law in North Carolina.

The news comes about one month after Rabon shocked the state’s General Assembly by revealing publicly he used marijuana more than 20 years ago to ease the pain and discomfort of chemotherapy during his battle with cancer.

“I know that tens of thousands of people in the state would benefit just as I did” if the medical marijuana bill became law, he said at the time. The GOP-majority state Senate passed the bill on March 1 and it is pending in the House.

Favorite Amendment Of The Whole Session

Rabon amended a popular House bill so that it can only become law if his medical cannabis bill is also approved, reported Wral.

During Wednesday’s Senate session, the senator, who is also the chairman of the Rules Committee proposed an amendment to the mostly technical bill that deals with physician assistants and is sponsored by for of the five chairs of the House Health Committee. The amendment states that the House bill can go into effect “only if, and on the date that, Senate Bill 3, 2023 Regular Session, becomes law,” according to News Observer. 7

The senate passed Rabon’s amendment in a 35 to 8 vote, before also passing the full bill.

Sen. Mike Woodard (D), commented on it saying “This is my favorite amendment of the whole session.”

Another Democratic senator, Paul Lowe, seems to have been on the same page, saying that this is “a very fine amendment.”

As expected not everyone agreed. Republican senator Jim Burgin expressed his opposition saying

“in the spirit of being fair and balanced, I have to disagree with my colleagues.” 

Photo: Benzinga edit with image from Wikimedia Commons and amedeoemaja on Shutterstock