Calling on state lawmakers to legalize medical marijuana in North Carolina, several veterans on Wednesday shared stories of their own battles or those of their comrades after they returned from deployment.
MUCH MORE AS IT DEVELOPS THIS AFTERNOON. >>> MEDICAL MARIJUANA WAS THE TOPIC OF A STATE SENATE COMMITTEE HEARING THIS AFTERNOON. 38 OTHER STATES HAVE LEGALIZED THE MEDICAL USE OF THE DRUG. WRAL’S LAURA LESLIE IS LIVE WITH THE DEBATE. . >> Reporter: I SPENT TIME LOOKING FOR THE RECORDS HERE. AND AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THIS APPEARS TO BE THE FIRST EVER HEARING THE SENATE HAS HAD ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA. VETERANS AND CARETAKERS TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO LINE UP TO URGE LAWMAKERS TO APPROVE THE LEGISLATION. AND SO DID A POWERFUL MEMBER OF THE SENATE’S GOP LEADERSHIP. >> SO I THINK THAT IT IS A CHALLENGE TO US. >> Reporter: SENATE RULES CHAIRMAN, A CANCER SURVIVOR, SAYS IT’S TIME THE LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA TO LESSEN THE SUFFERING OF PATIENTS WITH CANCER, MS, AND PTSD. >> I CAN SAY THIS. EVERY DAY THEY’RE ALIVE, THEY WILL LIVE BETTER. AND THAT’S IMPORTANT. >> DUE TO INJURIES SUSTAINED DURING MY SERVICE –. >> Reporter: IT INCLUDED EMOTIONAL TESTIMONY FROM VETERANS WITH PTSD, LIKE THIS RETIRED POLICE OFFICER WHO SAID THAT MARIJUANA IS KEEPING HIM STABLE. AT PUN POINT, THE VA HAD HIM ON 23 MEDICATIONS. >> MEDICATIONS WITH SIDE EFFECTS THAT MADE LIFE ALMOST UNBEARABLE AT TIMES. I HAVE PERSONALLY LOOKED DOWN THE BARREL OF MY OWN SERVICE WEAPON. >> I AM HERE BECAUSE I HAVE MORE DECEASED CONTACTS IN MY PHONE DUE TO SUICIDE THAN I HAVE LOST MEN IN COMBAT OTHER THE LAST 20 YEARS. THAT’S UNACCEPTABLE. >> Reporter: CHASE IS WITH THE VETERANS BUSINESS COLLECTIVE. HE SAID MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS BETTER FOR PTSD THAN OPIOIDS AND COULD REDUCE SUICIDES AND OPIOID OVERDOSES. >> IF THE PASSAGE OF THIS BILL PREVENTS ONE VETERAN FROM PUTTING THEIR PISTOL IN THEIR MIGHT, THAT’S WORTH IT. IT’S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GET IT DONE. >> Reporter: THE BILL WOULD SET UP A TIGHTLY CONTROLLED GROWING DISPENSARY SYSTEM REGULATED BY STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS. ONLY A FEW ILLNESSES WOULD QUALIFY FOR A SUBSCRIPTION. HOWEVER, RELIGIOUS GROUPS SAY IT WOULD OPEN THE DOOR TO WIDER USE OF MARIJUANA. A FEW TO HAVE CONDITIONS THAT WOULD QUALIFY WOULD BE CANCER, EPILEPSY, ALS, KROEN’S, SICKLE CELL, PARKINSON’S, AND PTSD AND MS. FIND OUT MORE ONLINE AT WRAL.COM. IN THE MEANTIME, THE BILL DIDN’T GET A VOTE TODAY. IT’S NOT CLEAR WHEN THAT WILL HAPPEN. IT MAY FACE AN UPHILL BATTLE HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA. BACK TO YOU.
