ECU faculty member available to talk with reporters about possible medical marijuana approval in NC

A bill to legalize medical marijuana has been approved by the N.C. Senate and will now move on to House members for consideration and possibly the governor’s office for approval.

East Carolina University’s Dr. Brenda Wells is available to talk with reporters about the effects of the proposed legislation.

Wells is the Robert F. Bird Distinguished Professor of Risk Management and Insurance (RMI) and the director of the RMI program in ECU’s College of Business. She’s the author of Marijuana Legalization: Implications for Property/Casualty Insurance, an article that catapulted her in the spotlight as an expert on marijuana legalization.

Wells can reflect on how government and society have gotten to this point as well as:

• Differences between hemp and cannabis and how both have changed the landscape of pain management and tax revenue.
• How public opinion of legalization has grown from 12% in 1970 to over 90% today.
• Cannabis’ current legal situation at both the state and federal levels.
• Pros and cons of legalization. Who has the most to win and who has the most to lose?

As an expert, Wells has given numerous presentations about this topic to government leaders and legislative and industry associations.

NOTE: Please contact Michael Rudd by email at ruddm16@ecu.edu or call 252-737-4574 to request an interview with Wells.