Although legalizing medical marijuana in North Carolina has plenty of popular support, industry groups also are working behind the scenes to move a bill forward in the General Assembly.
THEY EXPANDED THEIR RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY TO INCLUDE MORE YOUNGER ADULTS. COMING UP AT 7:15 WE WILL BE JOINED BY THE LEAD RESEARCHER ON THIS PROJECT TO SHARE SOME OF THE TRENDS THEY ARE SEEING AND NEW CASES AND SHARE HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED IN THE RESEARCH. >>> STATE LAWMAKERS WILL HOLD ANOTHER HEARING THIS WEEK ON A BILL TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA. 37 OTHER STATES HAVE TAKEN THIS STEP. LAUREN LESLIE LOOKED INTO WHO IS SUPPORTING THIS EFFORT IN NORTH CAROLINA. >> Reporter: THERE’S A LOT MORE GREEN IN THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA DEBATE THAN JUST THE PLANT. INDUSTRY GROUPS ARE HELPING THE PUSH TO LEGALIZE. AT HEARINGS ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA EVERY DAY PEOPLE LINE UP TO TELL THEIR PERSONAL STORIES. A GROUP CALLING ITSELF AND SEE FAMILIES FOR MEDICAL CANNABIS IS HELPING TO ORGANIZE THEM. THE GROUPS WEBSITE DOESN’T TELL YOU WHO’S BEHIND IT. LAST WEEK THE GROUP DISCLOSED THAT IT IS BACKED BY SEVEN COMPANIES IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY. ONE IS TRIANGLE BASED ROUTE BIOSCIENCE THAT IS FOUNDED BY GARRETT PURDUE, A SON OF FORMER GOVERNOR BETH PURDUE. HE SAYS THE FORMER GOVERNOR IS NOT INVOLVED. EVEN SO, THERE’S PLENTY OF POLITICAL FIREPOWER BEHIND THE BILL INCLUDING AT LEAST SIX INFLUENTIAL LOBBYIST. MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS A BIG BUSINESS IN OTHER STATES. IN FLORIDA IS $1 BILLION A YEAR INDUSTRY. SENATOR WILEY NICHOLS SAYS NORTH CAROLINA’S PROGRAM WOULD BE FAR MORE LIMITED AND MORE FOCUSED. >> IT SOLDIERS WITH PTSD, PEOPLE AT END-OF-LIFE SITUATIONS. MY FATHER IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. HE DIED FROM CANCER AND USED MARIJUANA ILLEGALLY. HE USED IT DURING CHEMO AND RADIATION DURING THE END OF HIS LIFE AND IT WAS HELPFUL. >> Reporter: MEDICAL MARIJUANA COULD MEAN GREEN FOR THE STATE BUDGET AS WELL. THE BILL WOULD IMPOSE A TAX OF AT LEAST 10% ON SALES. NICHOLS SAYS THERE’S NO OFFICIAL ESTIMATE YET OF HOW MUCH THAT COULD ADD UP TO. >> THE TAX REVENUE MONEY WILL PAY FOR ALL THE COST OF THE PROGRAMS AN EXTRA COST TO THE TAXPAYER. ANY EXTRA MONEY WILL GO BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND. THIS WILL MAKE MONEY FOR THE STATE AND ALLOW US TO PUT MORE MONEY IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. >> Reporter: NORTH CAROLINA WAS ONLY LICENSED 10 PRODUCERS AT FIRST TO RUN NO MORE THAN 40 DISPENSARIES STATEWIDE. PETITION WILL LIKELY BE FEARS. >> ANYTHING THAT WILL PRODUCE REVENUE AND MAKE MONEY FOR FOLKS WILL HAVE LOBBYISTS INVOLVED. I THINK THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE IS MAKING SURE WE DO THIS THE RIGHT WAY. >> Reporter: THAT BILL COULD BE ON THE SENATE FLOOR AS SOON AS THIS WEEK. LAURA LESLIE, WRAL NEWS,
