Regulate Research of Medical Cannabis
House Bill 984 would create a new North Carolina Cannabis Treatment Research Act and revise existing hemp-extract protections to include cannabis used in registered medical research studies. The bill defines cannabis, caregiver, patient, physician, research institution, written certification, and a secure state database for tracking registered participants and institutions. It would allow a patient to possess a limited amount of cannabis for participation in a registered research study if the amount does not exceed an adequate supply set by the research institution, and it would allow a caregiver to possess and administer cannabis to a patient under the same research framework.
The bill also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to create and maintain a secure electronic Cannabis Treatment Research database for registering research institutions, physicians, caregivers, and patients. Research institutions could approve dispensation of cannabis acquired from another jurisdiction on a case-by-case basis, and the bill provides confidentiality protections for registry information while allowing law enforcement to verify caregiver registration. It also grants immunity from arrest, prosecution, penalties, or professional discipline to institutions, employees, physicians, and registered participants acting within the bill’s research provisions.
If enacted, the bill would amend G.S. 90-94.1 and add a new Article 5I to Chapter 90 of the General Statutes, creating a legal pathway for cannabis-related medical research in North Carolina. It would not broadly legalize cannabis, but it would carve out protections for limited possession, use, administration, and research participation tied to registered studies and physician certification. The bill would also impose new administrative duties on DHHS to build and manage a registry and would create confidentiality rules and law-enforcement verification procedures affecting patients, caregivers, physicians, and research institutions.
The bill’s title and structure suggest a pro-research, medical-access approach rather than a general legalization measure. Because no committee transcript or vote record is provided, there is no documented floor or committee sentiment to measure directly. Based on the text alone, the bill appears designed to support controlled scientific study and reduce legal risk for participants and institutions involved in cannabis research.
The main points of potential contention are the bill’s expansion of legal protections for cannabis possession and administration, the creation of a state registry containing sensitive medical and personal information, and the scope of immunity granted to researchers and physicians. Supporters are likely to emphasize medical research, patient access, and scientific development, while critics may focus on enforcement concerns, confidentiality, and whether the bill could function as a step toward broader cannabis normalization. The bill’s allowance for cannabis acquired from another jurisdiction may also raise regulatory and compliance questions.