NC Dems: Legalize medical marijuana

The N&O's Under the Dome alerted me to this, but if you download the state Democratic Party's August 2010 resolutions, it's on page 23:

10. Asking the Legislature to Eliminate
Bureaucratic Bureaucratic Maneuvering and Pass NC House Bill 1380, An Act to Enact the Medical Marijuana Act

Whereas: A resolution to support NC HB 1380, The Legalization of the Use of Medical Marijuana when Prescribed by a Licensed Physician, was passed at the August 29, 2009 State Executive Committee Meeting;

Whereas: The Veterans Administration, in view of the above medical evidence, has recognized the benefits of Medical Marijuana (Cannabis) and is editing it’s pain management contracts to specifically exclude medical marijuana;

Whereas: PTSD is one of the single most difficult disorders to treat and Medical Marijuana has had such success in treating it that it now accounts for over 25% of New Mexico’s patients;

Whereas: North Carolina has one of the largest veteran populations in the country;

Whereas: The US Conference of Mayors passed, unanimously, a resolution calling for improved treatment and harm reduction, including removal of barriers to treatment of PTSD and other war wounds with medical marijuana;

Therefore Be It Resolved: The Democratic Party of North Carolina take immediate steps to affect passage of legislation to legalize medical marijuana and to remove these barriers to treatment with medical marijuana for veterans and other patients whose doctors determine the treatment to be appropriate; and

Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be sent to each member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, each member of the North Carolina Senate, The Council of State, and the Governor.

I've added the italics/bold type. And this is from HB 1380, which has 5 sponsors (a relatively low number for house bills) and seems to have stalled in committee last year:

Compassion dictates that State law should make a distinction between the medical and nonmedical use of marijuana. Hence, the purpose of this Article is to protect patients with debilitating medical conditions, and their physicians and caregivers, from arrest and prosecution, criminal and other penalties, and property forfeiture by allowing the beneficial use of medical marijuana in a regulated system for alleviating symptoms caused by debilitating medical conditions and their medical treatments.

(8) This act is intended to make only those changes to existing North Carolina laws that are necessary to protect patients and their doctors from criminal and civil penalties and is not intended to change current civil and criminal laws governing the use of marijuana for nonmedical purposes.

(9) Based on data gathered from other states where medical marijuana has been regulated, this act will result in revenues for the State approximately sixty million dollars ($60,000,000) per year within four years of implementation.

Interesting stuff. It's bold to put it in the state party platform, even buried at the end of the health care section and listed in the table of contents by the bill number instead of the subject matter. I wonder if you'll see Republicans point it out in the coming elections.