New NC bill gives hope to medical marijuana faithful
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Before bed every night, Rebecca Forbes drinks a spoonful of coconut oil, infused with cannabis. It's a daily routine she credits with saving her life.
Years ago she was diagnosed with lymphoma and told she would die. For the past two years, she's been in remission.
"I started taking cannabis oil in 2010 after I left the Apex Healthplex ER with them telling me I was in organ failure," said Forbes.
At first she said she was skeptical and didn't believe cannabis would do anything for her. Still she left the ER that night and went home and took some cannabis oil someone had given her.
"It pulled me out of kidney failure within two weeks," said Forbes.
A new bill introduced in the General Assembly's short session is giving new hope to people like Rebecca Forbes.
"We don't want to risk being in jail or prison for what we're doing to stay alive," Forbes said.
If passed, House Bill 983 would legalize the use of medical marijuana in North Carolina.
READ MORE: LINK TO HOUSE BILL 983
Rep. Kelly Alexander Jr. is a co-sponsor of HB 983. He helped draft a similar bill last year but it failed to pass in committee.
By phone, some Republicans say they predict the same happening this year. One reason given is the timing. They say short session isn't the time for a bill like this.
Forbes said there's always time for a bill like this.
"From 2010 to 2014 I took cannabis oil, all except for the summer of 2012. I was feeling great, stopped taking it and I had these two huge tumors come up in my neck. So that's what drove me into the cancer doctors in late 2013."
From there she said she started chemo treatments while still using cannabis, with her doctors' knowledge.
"I had no adverse reaction to any of the chemo drugs I was supposed to have, I only had to do four out of the six chemotherapies because I was cleared by the third treatment and I was taking the cannabis in conjunction with the chemo,"
Forbes said. "The face of cannabis has changed, especially on the medical side. We're serious. We could die,"
So, bill or no bill right now, Forbes will continue to be a champion for medical marijuana.
"I have grandchildren. I have a 13-year-old son, I have a 25-year old daughter and I don't want to die. I want to be here for them," Forbes said. "And if cannabis can do that for me, I'm going to keep taking cannabis."
