When was SB 711 first filed?

SB 711, the original NC Compassionate Care Act, was filed in the Senate on April 7, 2021. Primary sponsors were Sen. Bill Rabon (R-Brunswick), Sen. Michael Lee (R-New Hanover), and Sen. Paul Lowe (D-Forsyth).

What were the SB 711 vote tallies?

SB 711 passed the Senate 35-10 on second reading (June 2, 2022) and 36-7 on third reading (June 6, 2022) per NCGA roll calls. Some secondary sources cite the third reading as 36-10; the NCGA bill history is the authoritative reconciliation.

What was HB 563 in the 2024 short session?

HB 563 began as a House hemp and kratom bill. In the 2024 short session the Senate amended it to fold in the entire Compassionate Care Act, expand the Medical Cannabis Production Commission from 11 to 13 members, pre-emptively block any federal rescheduling from auto-changing NC law, and prohibit future recreational sales. The Senate-amended version passed 33-9 and 36-10 in late June 2024 but never received a House floor vote.

Did Sen. Rabon refile the Compassionate Care Act in 2025?

No. Sen. Bill Rabon did not refile the Compassionate Care Act in the 2025 session — a meaningful break in his championship. The 2025-26 vehicle is HB 1011, sponsored by House Democrats Reps. Aisha Dew, Pricey Harrison, and Zack Hawkins, with no Republican co-sponsors. Companion bills HB 984 (research-only) and HB 413 / S 350 (full adult-use) were also filed.

Why did HB 563 die in the House?

Speaker Tim Moore did not bring HB 563 to a House floor vote. Moore stated he personally supported medical cannabis but adhered to the informal "majority of the majority" rule, under which a bill cannot reach the floor without majority support from the GOP caucus alone. Sen. Norm Sanderson urged Senate colleagues to "stand firm" against passage in the upper chamber.

NC Cannabis Legalization Timeline — Compassionate Care Act

Legal Disclaimer: This information reflects North Carolina cannabis law as of May 2026 and is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Laws and regulations change — always verify current rules with the EBCI Cannabis Control Board or a qualified attorney. Cannabis remains illegal under federal law.

Last verified: April 2026

The Vehicles, In Order

Each session has had a primary Senate vehicle for the NC Compassionate Care Act. The 2024 short session is the procedural outlier — the Senate folded the entire CCA into a hemp/kratom House bill (HB 563) rather than running its own measure. The 2025–26 session is the first where Sen. Bill Rabon did not refile.

SB 711 (2021–22)

Filed: April 7, 2021.
Primary sponsors: Sen. Bill Rabon (R-Brunswick, Dist. 8), Sen. Michael Lee (R-New Hanover, Dist. 7), Sen. Paul Lowe (D-Forsyth, Dist. 32).
Senate 2nd reading: 35–10 (June 2, 2022).
Senate 3rd reading: 36–7 (June 6, 2022).
House: Died — never received a House floor vote.

Vote-tally note: NCGA bill-history records show 35–10 on second reading and 36–7 on third reading; some secondary sources cite the third reading as 36–10. The reconciliation is 35–10 / 36–7 from the NCGA roll calls.

SB 3 (2023–24)

Filed: January 25, 2023.
Senate 2nd reading: 36–10 (February 28, 2023).
Senate 3rd reading: 36–10 (March 1, 2023).
House Health Committee: Heard May 30, 2023 — the hearing at which Sen. Rabon publicly disclosed his own cannabis use during chemotherapy — but no committee vote was taken.
House: Died without a floor vote.

HB 563 (2024 short session) — the Senate-amended vehicle

HB 563 began as a House hemp and kratom bill. In the 2024 short session the Senate amended it to fold in the entire Compassionate Care Act, plus two other significant additions:

Expanded the Medical Cannabis Production Commission from 11 to 13 members.
Pre-emptively added language declaring that any future federal rescheduling would not automatically trigger NC reclassification.
Prohibited future recreational/adult-use sales.

The Senate-amended version passed the Senate 33–9 and 36–10 in late June 2024. The House did not bring it to a floor vote, and it died at adjournment. Sen. Norm Sanderson urged colleagues to “stand firm” against passage; Speaker Tim Moore stated he personally supported medical cannabis but adhered to the “majority of the majority” rule. Note: the 2024 vehicle was a hemp/kratom bill, not a casino bill — a common misconception.

HB 1011 + Companion Bills (2025–26)

HB 1011 — filed April 15, 2025. Primary sponsors: Reps. Aisha Dew (D-107), Pricey Harrison (D-61), and Zack Hawkins (D-31) — all Democrats; no Republican co-sponsors.
HB 984 — research-only authorization.
HB 413 / S 350 — full adult-use legalization.
Sen. Rabon did not refile the Compassionate Care Act in the 2025 session — a meaningful break in his championship.

Vote-Tally Reconciliation Table

Session	Bill	Senate 2nd Reading	Senate 3rd Reading	House Action
2021–22	SB 711	35–10 (June 2, 2022)	36–7 (June 6, 2022)	Died — no floor vote
2023–24	SB 3	36–10 (Feb 28, 2023)	36–10 (Mar 1, 2023)	House Health heard 5/30/23, no vote; died
2024 short	HB 563 (Senate-amended)	33–9 (late June 2024)	36–10 (late June 2024)	No House floor vote; died at adjournment
2025–26	HB 1011 + HB 984 + HB 413 / S 350	Pending	Pending	Pending in House Rules

NC Compassionate Care Act bill history: SB 711 second reading 35-10 June 2 2022; third reading 36-7 June 6 2022. SB 3 second and third readings 36-10 February 28 and March 1 2023. HB 563 Senate-amended vehicle passed Senate 33-9 and 36-10 in late June 2024. None received a House floor vote.
North Carolina General Assembly bill history

The Common Thread

Across five sessions the same pattern recurs: Senate passage on bipartisan margins, House inaction. The constraint isn’t the chamber; it’s the GOP caucus. See the overview for the “majority of the majority” explanation, and Sen. Rabon’s story for the human anchor of the Senate side.

Official Sources

Related on this site: North Carolina (2026) — Stein, Send a Message, Contact Us.

Compassionate Care Act — Session-by-Session Timeline