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Read. Follow. Verify.North Carolina House Bill 984 Permits Medical Cannabis Research Studies and Establishes State Registry
Last action · April 14, 2025: Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House action)Sponsors: Mary Belk and 10 others
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What This Bill Would Do
North Carolina House Bill 984 legalizes the possession and use of up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis for individuals participating in registered medical research studies, effective July 1, 2025. The measure requires s of participating patients to register with the Department of Health and Human Services and mandates that unused cannabis be disposed of at law enforcement secure collection boxes. Additionally, the legislation grants legal immunity from arrest and prosecution to participating research institutions, employees, and physicians.
The measure establishes a legal framework enabling patients, s, and research institutions to possess, administer, and study medical cannabis without facing state criminal penalties, while creating a confidential state database managed by the Department of Health and Human Services.
- North Carolina previously maintained strict statutory prohibitions against marijuana possession under Chapter 90 of the General Statutes, with narrow exceptions for specific hemp extracts used in treating intractable epilepsy. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Patients
Patients diagnosed with medical conditions may legally possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis when participating in a registered research study and obtaining physician certification.
Caregivers
Caregivers must register with the Department of Health and Human Services, may possess and administer cannabis to patients under their care without penalty, and must ensure proper disposal at law enforcement collection boxes.
Research Institutions
Hospitals, universities, laboratories, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and private medical research corporations can register to conduct cannabis research with legal immunity for employees.
Department of Health and Human Services
The Department is required to create a secure electronic database registry, manage registrations, maintain confidentiality, and provide verification access to law enforcement.
Law Enforcement Agencies
Law enforcement agencies are authorized to contact the Department to confirm caregiver registrations and must manage secure collection boxes for cannabis disposal.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to act as a caregiver under this bill?
Are patient and caregiver identities kept public in the state database?
How must unused cannabis or residual oil be discarded?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
3 actions- Apr 14, 2025HouseRef To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
- Apr 14, 2025HousePassed 1st Reading
- Apr 10, 2025HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 6 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Establishment of State-Supervised Medical Cannabis Research
The legislation marks a structured policy shift by permitting research-backed cannabis possession and creating a confidential Department of Health and Human Services registry.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.ncleg.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy75Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz50Current news / social attention level
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