Report: North Carolina Legislators Receive $530,000 in Campaign Donations from Pro-Marijuana and Casino Interests
According to a new report, state legislators in North Carolina have pocketed a staggering $530,000 in campaign donations in the first half of 2023 from pro-marijuana and casino industry interests. The report, released by longtime money and politics expert Bob Hall, reveals that these major contributions primarily came from out-of-state donors and individuals who have faced sanctions for their involvement in unlawful drug and gambling operations.
“It’s hard to understand why legislative leaders would want to help these shady characters, particularly in the gambling industry, until you see all the money they give politicians,” Hall said.
The release of this report coincides with the ongoing debate surrounding the regulation and laws surrounding both the marijuana and gambling industries in North Carolina. While Governor Roy Cooper has signed a bill legalizing sports betting starting next year, the approval of medical marijuana sales has faced obstacles in the state’s House of Representatives.
The report highlights Clint Patterson of Owasso, Oklahoma as the single largest donor to North Carolina legislators in the first half of the year. Patterson, the CEO of Mockingbird Cannabis, a licensed medical marijuana grower in Mississippi, contributed $137,900 to 26 lawmakers and four caucus committees. However, Mockingbird Cannabis has faced violations of state regulations and was ordered to destroy $1 million worth of plants due to non-compliance.
Another notable donor mentioned in the report is Michael Pappas of Orlando Park, Illinois, who serves as the executive vice president for business development for the Accel Entertainment Group, a gaming company. Pappas made his first donation to a North Carolina legislator, specifically Senate Appropriations Committee Co-Chairman Brent Jackson, in mid-March. Accel Entertainment Group has encountered legal troubles in the past and paid a $1 million fine in Illinois for alleged unlawful commissions.
“Suddenly, they’re writing checks for $2,000 or $5,000 to a legislator,” Hall said. “It looks like a lobbyist or somebody told them that this is a pay-to-play state — you need to put in the money if you want your bill passed this year or next.”
Hall’s review also reveals that there are 38 gambling-linked associations and businesses, including 29 located outside of North Carolina, that are funneling cash to over 70 lobbyists. Additionally, 13 pro-pot firms and organizations have paid 29 lobbyists, according to the report.
In other news, President Joe Biden’s Department of Health and Human Services has recommended that the Drug Enforcement Administration reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug. This classification would place marijuana in the same category as substances with ”moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence,” such as ketamine and certain anabolic steroids. Currently, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin, LSD, and peyote. Last year, President Biden pardoned thousands of individuals convicted of federal marijuana possession.
“Following the data and science, HHS has expeditiously responded to President Biden’s directive to HHS Secretary [Xavier Becerra] and provided its scheduling recommendation for marijuana to the DEA on August 29, 2023,” an HHS spokesperson said in a statement.
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