North Carolina, one of only eight states without a legal medical marijuana program, is now considering implementing such a program. Josh Stein hopes to regulate the THC-fueled “Wild West”, which is the Tar Heel State.
On June 3, the democratic executive said that he was creating a State Advisory Council on Cannabis via an Executive Order Help establish new rules to intoxicate THC-containing products, which have become more prevalent in stores near universities and schools since the Farm Bill of 2018 legalized hemp.
Stein said that he was only a little short of fully endorsing legalized adult use in an interview. WRAL News He said on Tuesday that adults aged 21 or older should be allowed to purchase products containing THC.
The governor stated that the terms “marijuana”, “hemp”, and other similar words have lost their meaning in the world today of THC-infused consumables. He said the better question to ask is “Will you get high?”
Both marijuana and hemp are a mixture of the cannabis compounds that consumers know best: THC, which is intoxicating and CBD, which is non-intoxicating.
Stein said, “It was all marijuana.” The plant cannabis is what produces both these products. I think that adult cannabis users should have the option to consume intoxicating amounts of THC. Yes, I support it, but I support making sure kids can’t buy it. North Carolina law allows them to. I find that to be unacceptable. This is unacceptable. We need to be better at protecting children. But we must also protect adults, who buy this stuff because we don’t know what they are doing. [what’s in the products].”
Governor pointed out the fact that the current state does not require convenience stores and vape shops selling hemp-based products intoxicating to their customers to age gate them, nor do they require independent lab testing for contaminants or potency.
Stein said that North Carolina could regulate THC similarly to how it does alcohol. This would help ensure the safety of public.
“I’m trying to do that to North Carolina, the Wild West,” said he. It’s ironic, I mean. North Carolina is in many ways the state with the highest level of marijuana use by adults in the United States. This is not Colorado. Massachusetts, not Colorado. Not these states legalized marijuana and created the regulatory framework to allow it for sale. North Carolina has zero rules. This is unacceptable.
In order to address Stein’s concerns, his executive order requires that his Cannabis Task Force be composed of 30 or less members. These members must come from:
- North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
- North Carolina Department of Public Safety
- North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
- North Carolina Department of Transportation
- North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management
- North Carolina Department of Justice
- North Carolina State Highway Patrol
- North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts
- North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission
- North Carolina General Assembly
- North Carolina farmers
- Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
- District Attorneys
- Public Defenders
- Chiefs of Police
- Sherriffs
- Business Community
- Medical Professional Community
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, in particular, will launch adult-use marijuana sales on its roughly 57,000 acre native Qualla Boundary (western North Carolina) in September 2024.
Stein, in a 4 June press release stated that he had charged the group to “study and recommend” a comprehensive solution for cannabis regulation. The group will examine best practices, learn from others and develop a comprehensive system to regulate cannabis sales. They’ll also ensure public safety, improve public health and support North Carolina agriculture.
Governor also expressed his gratitude to state legislators for “addressing this huge loophole” in the state laws that allowed intoxicating products made from hemp to be sold without regulation.
Stein’s demand for legislative change follows the call of North Carolina House Rep. Jordan Lopez D-Mecklenburg. filing House Bill 413In March, a bill called the Marijuana Legalization and Reinvestment Act became law to legalize cannabis use by adults over 21, and establish a commercial market that is taxed and regulated.
Rep. Julia Greenfield of Mecklenburg and nine colleagues from the lower chamber also made an appearance in the House. The Cannabis Treatment Research Act was introduced The legislation was passed in April. A research program was proposed to legalize medical marijuana through the legislation.
Stein painted an image this week that the GOP-controlled state Legislature was engaged in a conflict between the chambers, particularly with cancer survivor Sen. Bill Rabon of Brunswick, who had led the fight for the passage in 2022 and in 2023 of medical marijuana legalization measures, but which were then killed by House leaders.
Governor announced that the following people will be co-chairs of his advisory council.
- Lawrence H. Greenblatt M.D. is the state director of health and chief medical officer of North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
- Matt Scott, district attorney, prosecutorial District 20 (Robeson County)
Rabon, and House Rep. John Bell (R-Wayne), were also named as council members by the governor.
Bell, who served as the North Carolina House majority leader from late 2016 through 2024, has ties to the hemp industry, taking on an executive role at Nashville-based Asterra Labs—a startup company manufacturing hemp products—last year, North Carolina Public Radio WUNC reported.
Bell’s goal was to hire people and grow his company to profitability. You can tell them by clicking on the link Media outlet suggesting that he is in favor of regulations to improve product safety.
Stein explained that whether legislators want to prohibit or regulate hemp intoxicants, legalize adult or medical cannabis or keep cannabis illegal, this conversation needs to be accompanied by a concrete plan, given the North Carolina THC environment.
Governor said, “I want to have all stakeholders at the table,” as part of his goal for the advisory council. “Republican and Democratic legislators on the House side, Republican and Democratic legislators on the Senate side, public health folks, public safety folks—we want everybody to come together to say what should it look like in North Carolina.”
A February survey found that 71% of North Carolina voters favor legalizing medical cannabis as the elected officials discuss reforms under the Governor’s cannabis advisory plan. You can also find out more about the survey by clicking here. Meredith College Pollsters.
In the poll, the respondents were not asked about broader reforms because no state has legalized adult use of cannabis before it implements a medical marijuana program.