On May 26, 2008, House Joint Resolution 2405 was introduced in the North Carolina legislature. Jean Marlowe of Sunny View, medical marijuana patient and Director of Americans for Safe Access, Western NC (ASAWNC) testified in support of the bill, which was introduced by Rev. Earl Jones of Guilford County and also sponsored by representatives Bordsen, Church and Harrison.

The bill is a joint resolution authorizing the legislative research commission to study issues related to the public benefits of allowing marijuana or its chemical equivalent to be used for medicinal purposes.

The act becomes effective July 1, 2008, with Rep. Jones and co-sponsors planning to introduce full legislation in January 2009.

On Wednesday, June 25, the N.C. House Science and Technology Committee heard testimony regarding the need for this type of legislation in North Carolina. The committee hearing was covered by Raleigh local media as well as the Associated Press and N.C. ETV.

Marlowe was interviewed by N.C. ETV. Her interview will be included in the regular &dquo;Friday Legislative Week&dquo; ETV show.

In addition to Marlowe, Dr. Laura Hanson of Chapel Hill, former surgeon-general Dr. Jocelyn Elders and Dixie Deerman, patient and RN of Asheville, testified in support of the bill.

Marlowe will be working closely with state legislators as this bill becomes law and says supporters hope to see medical marijuana legislation in place in North Carolina by early 2010.

Former N.C. House Representative and former Superior Court Judge Raymond Warren, state legislative director for the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) in Washington, D.C., came to the hearing in support of the legislation.