The North Carolina Democratic Party State Executive Committee passed a resolution supporting the legalization of medical marijuana at its convention Sunday in Fayettevillle.
The vote came after a speech from Richmond County resident and party official Perry Parks, and marks the second time Democratic leaders from the local level have asked their elected representatives to pass a bill legalizing marijuana for medical use.
The vote was nearly unanimous and, according to the party’s Eighth District Chair June Mabry, the mood of the room left no doubt what party leaders expect of those they sent to Raleigh.
Parks said his speech focused on the state’s large veteran population. He is the party’s Veterans Affairs Liaison for the Eighth District.
“Veterans are being arrested daily for using this natural medicine,” Parks said Monday morning, describing his Sunday speeches. “We have one of the largest populations of veterans in any state, which means there are a lot of guys with IED injuries and it’s now been scientifically-proven medical marijuana helps to treat those injuries.”
The resolution refers to a recent reversal of policy by the Veterans Administration recognizing medical marijuana “as a legitimate treatment for injuries and illnesses under the supervision of a doctor.”
It also cites clinical trials from the University of California School of Medicine confirming the effectiveness of marijuana in treating traumatic brain injuries, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and nerve-related pain; and a resolution unanimously passed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors calling for the removal of barriers to medical marijuana’s use to treat PTSD and other war injuries.
The bill will now have to be reintroduced and begin working its way through a first reading vote and committee hearings once again.
However, N.C. Democratic Party Executive Director Andrew Whalen downplayed the scope of the resolution Monday, saying it applies only to North Carolina veterans.
“It was specifically toward veterans who would be at risk of losing some of their health benefits because they use marijuana,” Whalen said.
An outspoken supporter of medical marijuana, Parks also holds a veterans outreach position with the non-profit North Carolina Cannabis Patients Network and testified before the House’s Health and Human Services Committee during its consideration of HB 1380.
“Perry is a decorated, retired veteran with an honorable discharge as a lieutenant colonel, and he was a fighter pilot,” Mabry said. “He is simply asking this body and legislature to do what other legislatures have done in opening up this treatment option for veterans.”
The state executive committee is made up of elected party officers from each county in the state, and the resolutions it passes are considered as directives for elected representatives of the party to carry out in Raleigh.
A copy of the resolution will be mailed to each member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, Senate, Council of State and the Governor.
SOURCE Richmond Daily Journal
Nick
1 year ago
This is a mixexblessing. It is great that the facts are starting to out weigh the fallicies related to cannibis as a treatment. However, there are many more patients suffering with pain and illness in this country then will ever suffer from combat injuries or PTSD. How dare this people single out veterans suffering as somehow more in need of compassionate, decisive and swift legislation than all the other citizens of this state.
Robert Parker
1 year ago
absolutely, medical Marijuana should be for anyone who needs it. Not just Veterans (like me)