RALEIGH -- A state lawmaker wants North Carolina to study and potentially legalize medical marijuana.

Guilford County Rep. Earl Jones filed the bill. Wednesday, a former U.S. surgeon general testified in favor of it as well. From 1993-1995, Dr. Joycelyn Elders was the country's top doctor. Nearly 20 years, later she's here in North Carolina advocating medical marijuana.

"We've been using marijuana out there as I said for 5,000 years," Elders said. "It's safer than an awful lot of medications than we have out there on the market."

But opponents say that's not the case.

"When you consider the carcinogens in marijuana alone, it's multiple to that of smoking so this is not really a safe drug to take," said Mark Creech from the N.C. Christian Action League.

Supporters believe medical marijuana helps health problems related to Alzheimer’s, AIDS, arthritis, cancer, and multiple sclerosis.

"And if you can prevent nausea and vomiting, the body might soon recover, but so many of these patients die of starvation because they can't keep anything down," Elders added.

Jones agrees and wants North Carolina to look into the idea.

Twelve other states have legalized medical marijuana. Most of them are out West or in the Northeast. Jones points out that this is just a bill to study the idea. He emphasizes it's a study, but it's clear he supports the idea to help patients with nausea and vomiting.

"Marijuana has clearly demonstrated to stop that process. People gain weight, they have a high quality of life, they are psychologically and emotionally enhanced," Jones said.

"Who's gonna grow it?" Creech asked. "That's a question that has to be considered and can that get out of hand. It has gotten out of hand as I understand it in California."

Lawmakers did not vote on the proposal and it appears House leadership is reluctant to take up the issue. A similar bill failed in the North Carolina legislature in 2003. Recent attempts in Tennessee and South Carolina have failed as well.