The House bill cites scientific evidence dating back decades that has established “beneficial uses for cannabis in treating or alleviating pain, nausea and other symptoms associated with certain debilitating medical conditions, as found by the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine in March 1999.”

The bill notes that the Research Triangle Institute in Research Triangle Park has been involved in a marijuana research project through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services dating to 1978.

And based on similar experiences in other states that have legalized marijuana for medical purposes, the House bill estimates that legalization would “result in approximately $250 million per year in revenues for the state within four years of implementation.”

Harrison said that two years ago, the version of the bill then in play at least received a hearing before a review committee, a forum during which witnesses living with chronic pain testified about the relief they had received from medical marijuana.

“We had disabled vets, widows of disabled vets and an elderly grandmother — all people who had been helped by marijuana for pain relief,” Harrison said. “And all of the people who spoke two years ago were Republicans.”