Constitutional Amendments - Cannabis.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 1072

Short Title: Constitutional Amendments - Cannabis. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Smith, Theodros, and Lowe (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
May 5, 2026
*S1072-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION OF NORTH CAROLINA TO PROVIDE FOR 2
THE QUALIFIED DECRIMINALIZATION AND MEDICAL USE OF CANNABIS. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1.(a) Article I of the North Carolina Constitution reads as rewritten: 5
"ARTICLE I 6
"DECLARATION OF RIGHTS 7
8
"That the great, general, and essential principles of liberty and free government may be 9
recognized and established, and that the relations of this State to the Union and government of 10
the United States and those of the people of this State to the rest of the American people may be 11
defined and affirmed, we do declare that: 12
… 13
Section 39. Right to possession of limited amounts of cannabis for personal use. 14
The possession of limited amounts of cannabis for personal use shall not be a criminal offense 15
in this State. The General Assembly shall enact general laws governing the possession of limited 16
amounts of cannabis for personal use consistent with this section." 17
SECTION 1.(b) The amendment set out in Section 1(a) of this act shall be submitted 18
to the qualified voters of the State at the statewide general election to be held on November 3, 19
2026, which election shall be conducted in accordance with the laws governing elections at that 20
time. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be: 21
"[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST 22
Constitutional amendment allowing the possession of limited amounts of cannabis for 23
personal use subject to certain conditions enacted by the General Assembly." 24
SECTION 1.(c) The State Board of Elections shall certify the results of the 25
referendum conducted under Section 1(b) of this act. If a majority of votes cast on the question 26
are in favor of the amendment set out in Section 1(a) of this act, the Secretary of State shall enroll 27
the amendment among the permanent records of that office. If a majority of votes cast on the 28
question are against the amendment set out in Section 1(a) of this act, the amendment shall have 29
no effect. 30
SECTION 1.(d) If the certification from the State Board of Elections under Section 31
1(c) of this act reflects that a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment 32
set out in Section 1(a) of this act, the amendment set out in Section 1(a) of this act is effective 33
upon certification. 34
SECTION 2.(a) Article I of the North Carolina Constitution reads as rewritten: 35
"ARTICLE I 36
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 1072-First Edition
"DECLARATION OF RIGHTS 1
2
"That the great, general, and essential principles of liberty and free government may be 3
recognized and established, and that the relations of t his State to the Union and government of 4
the United States and those of the people of this State to the rest of the American people may be 5
defined and affirmed, we do declare that: 6
… 7
Section 39. Right to medical use of cannabis. 8
The possession of limited amounts of cannabis for medical use by patients with qualifying 9
conditions shall not be a criminal offense in this State. The General Assembly shall enact general 10
laws governing the possession of cannabis for medical use consistent with this section." 11
SECTION 2.(b) The amendment set out in Section 2(a) of this act shall be submitted 12
to the qualified voters of the State at the statewide general election to be held on November 3, 13
2026, which election shall be conducted in accordance with the laws governing elections at that 14
time. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be: 15
"[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST 16
Constitutional amendment allowing the possession of cannabis for medical use by 17
patients with qualifying conditions subject to certain conditions enacted by the General 18
Assembly." 19
SECTION 2.(c) The State Board of Elections shall certify the results of the 20
referendum conducted under Section 2(b) of this act. If a majority of votes cast on the question 21
are in favor of the amendment set out in Section 2(a) of this act, the Secretary of State shall enroll 22
the amendment among the permanent records of that office. If a majority of votes cast on the 23
question are against the amendment set out in Section 2(a) of this act, the amendment shall have 24
no effect. 25
SECTION 2.(d) If the certification from the State Board of Elections under Section 26
2(c) of this act reflects that a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment 27
set out in Section 2(a) of this act, the amendmen t set out in Section 2(a) of this act is effective 28
upon certification. 29
SECTION 3. Except as otherwise provided, the remainder of this act is effective 30
when it becomes law. 31