A plan to allow marijuana for medical use in North Carolina had its first public airing in front of a newly elected crop of state lawmakers on Wednesday, with debate centering on whether North Carolinians would be able to enter the new industry.

Senate Bill 3, the “Compassionate Care Act,” would legalize medical marijuana for people who have cancer, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and other ailments. Those do not include chronic pain, and the drug would not be allowed for recreational use.

The bill would also create a new advisory board, consisting of 11 members, to review which new medical conditions can be added for approved use. A separate 11-member board would approve, suspend or revoke licenses for suppliers of marijuana.

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