North Carolina Could Legalize Marijuana Within Next Two Years: Gov. Cooper

North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper believes marijuana has a chance of being legalized in the state for medical use within the remaining two years of his term.

In his interview with WXII 12 Tuesday, Cooper said the medical marijuana legalization bill "has an opportunity to pass" in the North Carolina General Assembly.

The governor said he is also pushing to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana due to reports of discrimination.

"I think medical marijuana has passed the Senate this past year, and I think that has an opportunity to pass. I do believe that we should decriminalize small amounts of marijuana in that it has been applied in a discriminatory way," Cooper said.

In October, Cooper said he is open to decriminalizing marijuana-related cases, insisting that it was time to "end the stigma," cannabis news outlet Marijuana Moment reported.

After President Joe Biden's proclamation on granting pardon for offenders of simple marijuana possession, Cooper convened a task force composed of state attorneys to review pardon authority for marijuana offenses.

North Carolina Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein, who heads the task force, recommended to the governor the decriminalization of marijuana and also suggested initiating a study on whether to legalize cannabis sales.

The North Carolina Senate has already approved the "NC Compassionate Care Act," which would legalize medical marijuana for certain conditions, in a 36-7 vote.

But the Republicans in the state's House of Representatives blocked the bill.

State House Speaker Tim Moore told CBS 17 that he expects the issue of marijuana legalization would be discussed again in the next legislative session but added he's uncertain whether the bill would be approved.

"I can tell you under the prior caucus there were not the votes, there was not the support at all in there for that. I don't know where these new members are," Moore said. "It is something that seems to be happening more and more around the country."

In May, a survey conducted by the Carolina Partnership for Reform showed that 82% of North Carolina voters are in favor of the legalization of medical marijuana.

A separate survey question also revealed that 60% of North Carolina voters support legalizing cannabis for adult use.

In the 2022 midterm elections, Maryland and Missouri voted to legalize recreational marijuana, but other cannabis-related ballot measures in Arkansas, North Dakota and South Dakota were defeated.

Data from the National Conference of State Legislatures showed that 37 states and Washington, D.C., had legalized medical marijuana.