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North Carolina Senators Discuss Medical Marijuana Bill, As House Leader Signals New Pathway To Passage In His Chamber

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North Carolina Senators Discuss Medical Marijuana Bill, As House Leader Signals New Pathway To Passage In His Chamber


A North Carolina Senate committee mentioned a invoice to legalize medical marijuana on Wednesday—and a high Home lawmaker is giving new indicators that his chamber is positioned to enact the reform after blocking comparable laws final 12 months.

The Senate Judiciary Committee held a listening to on the invoice from Sen. Invoice Rabon (R), with some dialogue on proposed amendments. If the proposal clears the panel at a subsequent assembly, it should have two extra committee stops earlier than doubtlessly heading to the ground.

The measure would permit sufferers with qualifying situations akin to most cancers, epilepsy, post-traumatic stress dysfunction (PTSD) and a number of sclerosis to own and buy hashish from licensed dispensaries.

Throughout the committee listening to, Rabon emphasised the simplicity of the laws, and he stated he’s hopeful that this would be the final time he’ll need to push for the reform.

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The sponsor pressured that the laws was drafted to make sure that the medical hashish program could be “tightly managed” whereas sustaining penalties for non-medical use of marijuana.

“You need to begin someplace,” he stated, including that lawmakers can “study as we go and develop as we study” if the legislation wants further revisions down the road.

Advocates are assured that the invoice will make it via the Senate, because the prior model did through the previous session. What’s been much less sure is how the GOP-controlled Home will method the difficulty.

However in an interview with Spectrum Information 1’s “Tying It Collectively” podcast that was launched on Wednesday, Home Speaker Tim Moore (R) indicated that he feels the chamber’s new political make-up might give the laws a pathway for passage.

“I feel there’s been a change. We now have a variety of new members,” he stated, including that he believes greater than 50 % of lawmakers now again medical hashish reform. “I might not be stunned in any respect if that invoice moved. I feel the percentages are extra probably than not that one thing will occur on that.”

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“However the satan is within the particulars. This will’t simply be huge open leisure use,” he added. “There must be a real medical purpose for it. There must be prescription, supervision, all that type of stuff. It may possibly’t simply be a reckless strategy to broaden leisure drug use. So I feel one thing will occur alongside these strains.”

Take heed to the speaker’s feedback on medical hashish under, beginning round 27:15 into the audio under:

That’s a big change in tone for the speaker, who beforehand remarked that there have been “a variety of considerations” with Rabon’s invoice.

Senate President Professional Tempore Phil Berger (R) stated in an interview with the identical podcast final month that the laws his chamber superior final session was “well-constructed” and “addressed a variety of the considerations that individuals have” whereas offering a wanted remedy possibility for sufferers with critical sicknesses.

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Listed below are the important thing provisions of the medical hashish laws, SB 3: 

Sufferers could be allowed to entry hashish if they’ve a “debilitating medical situation” akin to most cancers, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s illness, a number of sclerosis and post-traumatic stress dysfunction.

Smoking and vaping would even be allowed, however docs would want to prescribe a particular methodology of supply and dosages for sufferers below the revised laws. And they might must reevaluate sufferers’ eligibility for this system at the very least every year.

The invoice supplies for as much as 10 medical marijuana suppliers who management the cultivation and sale of hashish. Every provider can function as much as eight dispensaries. That’s double the dispensary cap specified by the sooner model.

Below the invoice, a Compassionate Use Advisory Board could be established, and it may add new qualifying medical situations.

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Individually, a Medical Hashish Manufacturing Fee could be created to make sure that there’s an ample provide of hashish for sufferers, oversee licensing and generate sufficient income to manage this system.

The measure would additional create a North Carolina Hashish Analysis Program to “undertake goal, scientific analysis relating to the administration of hashish or cannabis-infused merchandise as a part of medical remedy.”

There don’t look like particular fairness provisions that many advocates push for as a part of legalization laws.

The Judiciary Committee chairman indicated that the panel would take the invoice again up for motion on Tuesday.


Marijuana Second is monitoring lots of of hashish, psychedelics and drug coverage payments in state legislatures and Congress this 12 months. Patreon supporters pledging at the very least $25/month get entry to our interactive maps, charts and listening to calendar in order that they don’t miss any developments.

Be taught extra about our marijuana invoice tracker and develop into a supporter on Patreon to get entry.

“We’re excited to see SB 3 getting an early committee listening to. For too lengthy, the struggling sufferers of North Carolina haven’t had entry to protected, lab-tested medical hashish,” Kevin Caldwell, a legislative supervisor on the Marijuana Coverage Challenge, advised Marijuana Second.

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“North Carolinians deserve the identical entry that residents in 37 different states presently have for debilitating situations. Too many have needed to resort to the illicit marketplace for aid, with the authorized and well being penalties that accompany utilizing that market,” he added. “It’s refreshing to see bipartisan sponsorship to create a medical hashish program that will positively have an effect on the lives of hundreds of struggling North Carolinians.”

A findings part within the invoice states that it’s the intent of the legislature “prioritize the safety of public well being and security within the creation of a system for the cultivation, processing, and promoting of medical hashish.”

Additional, “the Normal Meeting that the regulatory system created by this Article be nimble and capable of reply rapidly to modifications within the rapidly-evolving hashish trade.”

A ballot launched this week discovered that North Carolinians are additionally prepared for the reform, with about three in 4 voters saying they again medical hashish legalization.

“We hope the Normal Meeting responds to the needs of its voters and strikes this laws via the legislative course of and brings this invoice to Gov. Cooper’s desk,” Caldwell stated.

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For his half, Gov. Roy Cooper (D) stated in December that he thinks a medical marijuana legalization invoice “has a possibility to cross” this session, and he additionally reiterated his assist for broader decriminalization of hashish possession, noting racial disparities in enforcement.

Cooper’s public assist for decriminalization is a comparatively latest improvement. He first brazenly backed the coverage change in October, saying that it’s time to “finish the stigma,” whereas individually saying steps he’s taken to discover his choices for independently granting aid to folks with current convictions.

Following President Joe Biden’s mass pardon announcement in October, which additionally concerned a name to motion for governors to supply state-level aid, Cooper stated that he’s directed state attorneys to evaluate pardon authority for marijuana offenses.

The governor individually convened a North Carolina Process Drive for Racial Fairness in Legal Justice that beforehand advisable decriminalizing marijuana. The report from the panel, which is chaired by state Lawyer Normal Josh Stein (D), additionally included a suggestion for the state to provoke a research on whether or not to extra broadly legalize hashish gross sales.

Below present legislation, possessing greater than half an oz as much as 1.5 ounces of hashish is a category 1 misdemeanor, topic to as much as 45 days imprisonment and a $200 high quality. In 2019, there have been 3,422 such expenses and 1,909 convictions, with 70 % of these convicted being nonwhite.

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Twitter’s New Marijuana Promoting Coverage Nonetheless Doesn’t Enable Advertisements For Marijuana Product Gross sales

Photograph courtesy of Philip Steffan.

Marijuana Second is made attainable with assist from readers. Should you depend on our hashish advocacy journalism to remain knowledgeable, please take into account a month-to-month Patreon pledge.



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Bill Belichick's girlfriend seemingly shuts down rumors coach will leave North Carolina for NFL

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Bill Belichick's girlfriend seemingly shuts down rumors coach will leave North Carolina for NFL


Bill Belichick’s girlfriend on Thursday seemingly shut down any talk of her boyfriend leaving the North Carolina Tar Heels football program for a job in the NFL.

Jordon Hudson responded to rumors that suggested Belichick had one foot out the door when it came to his Tar Heels gig. Belichick had been rumored to be interest in coaching the Dallas Cowboys, but the head coaching job wasn’t open until he had already committed to North Carolina. CBS Sports reported that Belichick didn’t sign his contract with the school.

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Oct. 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey: Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and girlfriend Jordon Hudson enter the field before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Navy Midshipmen at MetLife Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)

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She posted a photo on her Instagram showing the two posing with a football and Belichick dressed in Carolina blue.

“Pictured: two people who are overtly committed to @uncfootball,” she wrote as the caption.

Michael Lombardi, who is the general manager of the North Carolina football program, also threw cold water on the rumors of Belichick jumping back to the pros.

EX-NFL COACH JON GRUDEN RIPS STATE OF COLLEGE SPORTS

Jordon Hudson in December 2024

Dec. 12, 2024; Chapel Hill, NC: Jordon Hudson, the girlfriend of Bill Belichick, in attendance at Loudermilk Center for Excellence.  (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

“Bill is recruiting in DC today, and Baltimore tomorrow.  His focus is on North Carolina football, hiring staff members and developing the team. The NFL isnt a option so please stop making it one. Thank you,” he wrote on X in response to the CBS Sports report.

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“The reception towards UNC and Coach Belichick has been amazing from every school we visit. We are going to fight to keep North Carolina players here and bring the best to Chapel Hill,” he added.

Belichick was hired as the Tar Heels’ coach in December. He called the job a “dream come true.”

Bill Belichick fields questions from media

The North Carolina Tar Heels’ new head coach Bill Belichick speaks to the media at Loudermilk Center for Excellence. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

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“​​I’ve always wanted to coach in college football,” Belichick said in his introductory press conference. “It just never really worked out. Had some good years in the NFL, so that was OK. But this is really a dream come true.”

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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North Carolina man arrested for pandering – The Tribune

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North Carolina man arrested for pandering – The Tribune


North Carolina man arrested for pandering

Published 2:19 pm Friday, January 17, 2025

Met up with Scioto County juvenile 

A North Carolina man is in the Scioto County jail after he traveled by to Scioto County to meet up with a with a minor and then allegedly took videos of them participating in sexual acts.

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Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman said in a press release that his office was contacted on Jan. 13 by a female wanting to report a juvenile runaway. A deputy responded and obtained information and the preliminary investigation revealed the juvenile had been in contact with Braceon Madison, 18, of Laurinburg, North Carolina.

Two days later, deputies got information that the runaway juvenile and Madison were seen at Burger King in Wheelersburg. Deputies found them and the juvenile female was taken to the Southern Ohio Medical Center for evaluation. The initial contact with Madison revealed no probable cause for an arrest.

Deputies obtained all the needed information to continue their investigation and released Madison. The investigation was then turned over to detectives.

As this was occurring, the detectives were contacted and advised that the Madison had shown up at the hospital requesting to see the juvenile. Detectives responded to the hospital and observed Madison walking away as they were nearing the hospital and he was detained.

Detectives interviewed the juvenile and her guardians and they learned that Madison and juvenile met through Facebook on Dec. 24, 2024.

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The two remained in contact and Madison traveled by bus from North Carolina to Portsmouth.

Upon his arrival, he obtained a ride to Wheelersburg and was snuck into the juvenile’s residence. The two then took off on foot and they located a building on Ohio River Road where they stayed for a few nights before being found.

Thoroughman said the detectives learned through the investigation that Madison had taken videos and pictures on his phone of a juvenile participating in sexual acts.

On Jan. 15, deputies arrested was Madison and charged him with eight counts of second-degree felony pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor and is currently being held in the Scioto County Jail on a $250,000 bond.

Thoroughman stated that this is still an ongoing investigation that will result in more charges being presented to the Scioto County Grand Jury on a later date.

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Anyone with information should contact Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel at 740-351-1091.



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North Carolina fans should embrace the Bill Belichick experience and not worry how long it lasts

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North Carolina fans should embrace the Bill Belichick experience and not worry how long it lasts



Bill Belichick’s longevity at UNC doesn’t matter. He was hired to get the Tar Heels really good, really fast, and he might pull it off.

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By any measure, Bill Belichick’s first five weeks as North Carolina’s football coach have been unusual.

The way he got the job practically out of nowhere was weird. 

The justification for taking the job — largely because he believed NFL teams were no longer interested in him — was weird.

Seeing him on the road recruiting, meeting with kids in high schools and embracing social media has been kinda weird. 

Watching him every week on the Pat McAfee Show, where he’s still asked about everything going on in the NFL, is also pretty weird. 

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And even as he hires assistant coaches and insists North Carolina is where he’s going to be next season, the speculation that he might bail if the right NFL offer comes along — spurred on by his murky contract status — is extremely weird. 

You know it has been frustrating for North Carolina and Belichick’s new staff that every day during the NFL’s silly season seems to come with a new report that one team or the other might gauge his interest. Michael Lombardi, Belichick’s right-hand man and general manager, has twice this week gone on social media to shoot down the chatter, going so far as to say, “The NFL isn’t a option so please stop making it one.” And Belichick’s girlfriend posted an Instagram picture of the two of them Thursday with the caption: “Two people who are overtly committed to @uncfootball.” 

For better or worse, this is going to be the Belichick experience as long as he stays at North Carolina. Every month, maybe even every week, is going to bring a new rumor. Every chatty agent or NFL general manager is going to whisper his name to reporters who know that his potential return to the league would be a massive story. And every mention of his contract, which apparently isn’t signed yet, is going to emphasize how easy it would be for him to abandon college football should he be tempted by one last shot in the NFL.

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For better or worse, that’s what North Carolina signed up for. It’s what Belichick signed up for, too. The narrative that he’s only doing this until something better comes along is mostly the product of his own history and the strangeness of taking on a college program for the first time at age 72.

Belichick almost certainly understood that better than anyone going into this, and it’s not going to change as long as he’s wearing that Carolina baby blue. 

At this point, we have to take Belichick’s people at their word that his entire focus right now is building a roster and getting the Tar Heels ready for the 2025 season. Despite the reports and rumors, the odds of him bailing on North Carolina before he even gets started seem remarkably low.  

But because of how unconventional all of this is, you have to at least allow for the possibility that North Carolina’s administration will wake up one day and feel used by a coach who never really unpacked his suitcase. Maybe in a year, maybe in a month. Who knows. 

Rather than worry about how long Belichick will stay, though, or the potentially devastating circumstances under which he might leave, North Carolina and its fan base should lean into the experimental nature of this pairing. Embrace the uncertainty of how long it might last. 

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Every athletics director hopes the football coach they hire stays 10 years. But Belichick’s tenure has to be judged by a different standard. 

His longevity just doesn’t matter. He was hired to get North Carolina really good, really fast — and when you consider how weak the ACC has been, there’s a chance he might just pull it off. 

If SMU and 41-year-old coach Rhett Lashlee can come directly from the American Athletic Conference to the ACC and make the College Football Playoff right away, a similar leap is not outside the capability of a six-time Super Bowl champion. 

Maybe Belichick is exactly where he needs to be. Sure, the idea of Belichick working for Jerry Jones or coaching the Raiders is media catnip. The narrative that he longs for 15 more coaching wins to overtake Don Shula as the NFL’s all-time leader is easy and obvious. 

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But think of it this way. What would actually enhance Belichick’s coaching legacy more: Doing something he’s already done a whole bunch of times or coming into a situation where he has no history or experience and elevating a college program to a place it’s never been before? 

The answer is easy. For all Belichick has accomplished in the game of football, even getting North Carolina to the CFP just once would add more to his legend than another Super Bowl ever could. 

So why do so many people think he isn’t serious about North Carolina? Why is the NFL rumor mill working overtime to pull him back after rejecting him completely as a coaching candidate last year? 

Belichick may not have envisioned himself on a college sideline a few months ago, but he’s there now. And his tenure will be judged by quality, not quantity. 

North Carolina had nothing to lose here. It was an underachieving program stuck in the middle of the ACC without the kind of financial backing it needed to compete at the highest level. Even if Belichick bounces back to the NFL next year, the entire mentality of North Carolina has changed. It’s gone all-in on football in a way it never did before. 

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Sure, every time an NFL job opens, Tar Heel fans are going to be nervous because Belichick’s name is going to get thrown in the mix. Get used to it. It’s better than the comfortable alternative North Carolina had under Mack Brown and most of its previous coaches: Irrelevant and ignored. 

As long as Belichick is there, that’s not going to be the case. And even if it doesn’t last a long time, this is still an experiment without a downside — NFL rumors and all. 



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