Conservative Republican States Are Finally Starting To Get It

The American people are growing more and more suppprtive of cannabis use in America. Especially medical cannabis. Although an overwhelming majority of Americans support recreational cannabis use as well.

Americans in majority understand the many benefits that nature's wonddrous gift to humankind has to offer. Sooner or later the natsayers will all fall away and America will decriminalize cannabis at the federal level and l;egalize it fir all to use. It's only a matter of time.

America’s most conservative states are embracing medical pot

Despite struggles in Kentucky and Tennessee, the year looks up for medical marijuana supporters.

POLITICO - Many of the nation’s medical marijuana holdouts are giving in as pot activists make inroads this year with conservative strongholds — and are poised to notch more wins in the coming weeks.

Medical marijuana bills are advancing in the Republican-controlled legislatures of North Carolina, Alabama and Kansas for the first time. Efforts to expand limited medical programs in bedrock conservative states like Texas and Louisiana also appear close to passage.

“Medical cannabis is where we see the most common ground between Democrats, Republicans and Independents,” said Heather Fazio, a pro-marijuana advocate in Texas, where lawmakers are considering a major expansion of the state’s strict medical pot program.

Cannabis is already available to more than 230 million Americans for medical use and, according to an April survey by Pew Research, 91 percent of residents believe marijuana should be legal for that purpose. Even in states without a medical program like North Carolina and South Carolina, recent polls have shown support topping 70 percent.

Many elected officials, however, have hesitated to follow suit. And even in a year when cannabis boosters saw big, broad wins on recreational legalization in places like New York and New Jersey, some states that have embraced full prohibition remain firmly planted.

“Every state that does not already have a medical marijuana law had something introduced” this year, said Karen O’Keefe, director of state policies for pro-legalization group Marijuana Policy Project. “Most of them have died.”

Still, the progress in some Republican-controlled state capitals suggests a shift away from the hardline positions long held by social conservatives and have buoyed the pro-marijuana movement. The final weeks of legislative sessions could bring more wins for advocates.

Here’s a look at how medical marijuana legalization proposals are playing out across the country this year — and what it means for the future of medical marijuana legalization efforts:

Medical marijuana holdouts

North Carolina: A bill to create a medical marijuana program in North Carolina has a powerful sponsor: Republican state Sen. Bill Rabon, chairman of the Senate Rules Committee. His legislation would empower doctors to clear patients with “debilitating medical conditions” — diseases such as cancer, epilepsy and glaucoma — to use medical marijuana.

Garrett Perdue, founder of pro-legalization group NC Cann, said Rabon’s support gives the bill a decent chance of making it through the Senate — and maybe even the House — this session.

“If we'd had this conversation two weeks ago … I would have told you that I thought cannabis legislation of any form in North Carolina was three years away,” Perdue said recently. “The issue has the right champion, and that's the only difference.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, however, said in early April that the medical bill does not have the votes.

The Legislature is slated to be in session until July 2.