Republicans barrel ahead on enabling vice

Marijuana, gambling take a front seat in new legislative session. That's disappointing under GOP leadership

I continue to be baffled by the energy and enthusiasm in the General Assembly’s Republican caucus for marijuana and gambling.

Again this year, Republicans are the driving force behind bills to legalize marijuana in North Carolina for medical use and to legalize sports gambling throughout the state. Such bills have failed narrowly in the past few years, but legislative leaders predict that this year both will go to Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk — where he will eagerly sign them.

Both issues have the media behind them, and most public polling. But the real arguments for marijuana and gambling largely center around money. They’ve become big businesses in the United States — and the General Assembly sees dollar signs. As neighboring states legalize and regulate these burgeoning industries, legislative worry that they’re missing out.

But this ignores something more important than money. Both issues strike to the heart of a few simple questions: What kind of state do we want North Carolina to be? A…