WFAE: “Jackson, a state senator from Charlotte, has said North Carolina must follow the lead of 18 states that includes neighboring Virginia, and make marijuana legal….
Former state Sen. Erica Smith, who is running as the most progressive candidate in the Democratic primary, sponsored at least three bills relating to medical marijuana, dating back to the 2017-2018 session. Her campaign spokesperson, Morris Katz, said “while other candidates have waited until it was politically convenient, Senator Smith has been fighting to legalize cannabis for years.”
He said that “policy is personal for her in a way that frankly it doesn’t seem like it is for Senator Jackson and that’s reflected in their respective records on this issue.”
Former NC Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley said in a statement that she “believes that legalizing and regulating cannabis will strengthen North Carolina’s economy, provide new opportunities for family farms, and help usher in critical reforms in our criminal justice system.”
Beasley and Jackson are considered the front-runners in the race.
Beaufort Mayor Rett Newton is also running in the Democratic primary. He said legalizing medical marijuana is a “no-brainer.” As for full legalization, he said his “only reservation … is … we need to fully understand the potential for addiction…and ensure we have the regulatory framework in place to minimize addiction.”
Democrat Richard Watkins, a virologist, also supports legalization, saying “criminalization has been a burden on poor communities.””