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View the uncertified results for the South Carolina primary elections as they come in.
by Marisa Sardonia
RALEIGH, N.C. (WLOS) — North Carolina lawmakers are considering a new proposal that could put the decriminalization of cannabis directly in front of voters statewide.
Senate Bill 1072, which was first filed on Monday, May 4, 2026, tackles two main objectives: the right to possession of limited amounts of cannabis for personal use, and the right to medical use of cannabis. The bill aims to amend the state constitution to meet these two objectives.
The bill, if passed, would enact laws that govern the possession of "limited amounts of cannabis for personal use," as well as laws that allow "medical use by patients with qualifying conditions."
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This proposal would not change the law immediately. Lawmakers would first have to pass the bill before it could be sent to a statewide ballot in November 2026. Then, voters would decide whether to approve both personal use and medical cannabis use.
Even if voters approve this amendment, lawmakers would still need to set key details, including possession limits, regulation and how the market would be structured.
Senate Bill 1072 cleared its first reading on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, but multiple steps must still be achieved before this bill can eventually reach voters.
In April 2026, the state's Advisory Council on Cannabis recommended the creation of a regulatory framework for marijuana in North Carolina. This came after a report by the council estimated approximately $3 billion in illegal sales in just one year.
2026 Sinclair, Inc.