NC Compassionate Care Act Summary

• Enacts a regulated medical cannabis program allowing qualified patients with debilitating medical conditions to legally possess and use cannabis under physician supervision, with 13 specified conditions eligible and the Compassionate Use Advisory Board able to add others.

• Establishes the Medical Cannabis Production Commission to license up to 10 suppliers who must operate production facilities and medical cannabis centers, with each supplier limited to 8 centers and required to operate at least one in a Tier 1 county.

• Creates a registry identification card system for qualified patients, designated caregivers, and suppliers, with annual issuance and confidential database maintained by the Department of Health and Human Services.

• Implements strict regulations including seed-to-sale tracking, independent testing laboratories (up to 5), packaging and labeling requirements, restricted advertising, hours of operation (7 A.M. to 7 P.M.), and location restrictions (1,000 feet from schools, churches, child care facilities).

• Exempts compliant suppliers and patients from criminal penalties for possession and distribution, while maintaining criminal penalties for unauthorized sales and establishing a 10% monthly gross revenue fee to fund the system.