Charlotte lawmaker sponsors cannabis referendum bill

UNSPLASH

A bill sponsored by North Carolina Sens. Caleb Theodros, Kandie Smith and Paul Lowe would put a referendum on the November ballot that would let voters decide whether to decriminalize small amounts of personal and medical marijuana

North Carolina lawmakers have introduced a bill that would let voters decide whether to decriminalize small amounts of personal and medical cannabis.

Senate Bill 1072, sponsored by Democrats Caleb Theodros (Mecklenburg), Kandie Smith (Greenville) and Paul Lowe (Forsyth) propose constitutional amendments to allow for limited amounts of marijuana for recreational use, as well as medical cannabis for people with qualifying conditions. The bill, which must be approved by both chambers of the General Assembly, would go on the November general election ballot. 

“It’s not only about cannabis but allowing voters to make the decisions themselves,” said Theodros, whose district includes west Charlotte. “All this bill would do is introduce two different amendments and allow voters to make the decision.”

Bills filed by lawmakers from both parties to legalize marijuana use in North Carolina have been shot down in the General Assembly since former Rep. Kelly Alexander of Charlotte first proposed it in 2009. Since then, support has grown but failed to garner enough backing to become law. 

Despite resistance in Raleigh, polls suggest North Carolinians are embracing the idea of legalizing marijuana, which Virginia did in 2021. A February 2025 Meredith College poll revealed 71% or residents support legalization for recreational use. A 2021 Elon University Poll found 54% of respondents supported legalization.

SB 1072 would place the measure on November’s ballot as a referendum. If voters were to approve, lawmakers would be required to create laws governing possession. 

“If you just look to see how effective the General Assembly has been, cannabis is something that’s been in public policy discussions over the past 20 years,” Theodros said. “For 20 years straight, the General Assembly has failed to introduce any kind of meaningful guardrails or true policy around it. I just point you to Medicaid expansion. There were 25-30 bills every year introduced in order to try to expand Medicaid and it wasn’t only until a few years ago that we were finally able to do that in North Carolina. The idea that bills or policy ideas have been introduced previously and have failed is never an indication that the next one will continue to fail.”

Under state law, marijuana possession carries criminal penalties. Bill proponents contend subjecting people to arrest, prosecution, and potential sentencing creates a two-tier justice system that historically impacts the poor and communities of color. In addition, it limits access for patients who could benefit from medical cannabis – an option that’s available in most other states.

“When we talk about even the potential to legalize medical marijuana or even recreational marijuana use, we also need to go back and start to take a look at what has marijuana or the disproportionate application of the law, if you will, of marijuana laws have done to people,” Theodros said. “What has it done to their ability to get jobs after they're removed from jail or whatever the case may be. It’s not my personal belief when it comes to the legalization of marijuana. It’s not simply needing to just legalize it. It’s to rectify some of those negative policies that we pushed in North Carolina and the United States in general.”

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