Several veterans urged state lawmakers to legalize medical marijuana in North Carolina, and on Wednesday shared stories of their own struggles or that of their comrades on their return from the field.
MUCH MORE LIKE IT DEVELOPED THIS AFTERNOON. >>> MEDICAL MARIJUANA WAS THE TOPIC OF A STATE SENATE COMMITTEE HEARING THAT AFTERNOON. 38 OTHER STATES HAVE APPROVED THE MEDICAL USES OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT. WRALS LAURA LESLIE IS LIVE WITH THE DEBATE. . >> Reporter: I HAVE SPENT TIME HERE SEARCHING THE RECORDS. AND AS FAR I CAN DETECT, THIS SEEMS TO BE THE SENATE’S FIRST HEARING ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA. Veterans and caregivers took the opportunity to stand in line to call on lawmakers to approve the laws. AND A POWERFUL MEMBER OF THE GOP LEADERSHIP OF THE SENATE. >> SO I THINK IT’S A CHALLENGE FOR US. >> Reporter: CHAIRMAN OF THE RULES SENATE, A CANCER SURVIVOR SAYS IT IS TIME TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA TO REDUCE THE SUFFERING OF PATIENTS WITH CANCER, MS AND PTSD. >> I CAN SAY THAT. EVERY DAY YOU LIVE, YOU WILL LIVE BETTER. AND THAT’S IMPORTANT. >> DUE TO INJURIES DURING MY SERVICE -. >> Reporter: IT CONTAINS EMOTIONAL TESTIMONIES FROM VETERANS WITH PTSD, LIKE THIS RETIRED POLICE OFFICER WHO SAID MARIJUANA KEEPING HIM STABLE. AT THE PUN POINT THE VA USED HIM ON 23 MEDICINES. >> DRUGS WITH SIDE EFFECTS THAT MAKE LIFE ALMOST unbearable at times. I PERSONALLY COVERED THE BARREL OF MY OWN SERVICE WEAPON. >> I’M HERE BECAUSE I HAVE MORE DECEASED CONTACTS ON MY PHONE IF I HAVE LOST MEN IN BATTLE FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. >> Reporter: CHASE IS COLLECTIVE WITH THE VETERANS BUSINESS. HE SAID MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS BETTER FOR PTSD THAN OPIOIDS AND COULD REDUCE SUICIDES AND OPIOID OVERDOSES. >> IF THE COMBINATION OF THIS LAW PREVENTS A VETERAN FROM HAVING THEIR PISTOL IN HIS POWER, IT’S WORTH IT. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE IT UP. >> Reporter: THE REGULATION WOULD ESTABLISH A STRICTLY CONTROLLED GROWING PAYMENT SYSTEM REGULATED BY STATE HEALTH OFFICERS. ONLY FEW DISEASES COULD QUALIFY FOR A SUBSCRIPTION. HOWEVER, RELIGIOUS GROUPS SAY IT WILL OPEN THE DOOR FOR FURTHER USE OF MARIJUANA. SOME CONDITIONS THAT WOULD QUALIFY WOULD BE CANCER, EPILEPSY, ALS, KROEN, SAFETY CELL, PARKINSON AND PTSD AND MS. LEARN MORE ONLINE AT WRAL.COM. IN THE IN BETWEEN THE INVOICE HAS GOT NO VOICE TODAY. IT IS NOT CLEAR WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA IT MAY BE ENLARGING THE BATTLE. BACK TO YOU.
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