North Carolina bill would put cannabis legalization to voter referendum

Proposed legislation could allow North Carolina voters to decide legalization directly, amid ongoing legislative debate over marijuana policy.

FILE — statehouse · B.D. Gilfry / CC BY-SA 2.0

A bill introduced in North Carolina would permit voters to decide cannabis legalization through a ballot referendum, according to CBS17.com. The proposal represents a potential path forward for legalization advocates in a state where legislative momentum has stalled despite a state council recommending a regulated adult market with youth protections in April.

The referendum approach arrives as North Carolina leadership remains divided. Earlier coverage indicates the state's GOP Senate leader said a marijuana ballot bill was unlikely to advance in June, while subsequent reporting showed the governor and house speaker clashing over legalization strategy in July. Separately, lawmakers have pursued narrower cannabis measures, including a bill limiting THC levels in hemp-derived products.

The outcome remains uncertain: voter referendums can bypass legislative gridlock but require sufficient legislative support to reach the ballot. Watch whether the current bill gains floor traction and whether any passage attempt coincides with North Carolina's next major election cycle.