As law enforcement backs a hemp ban, protestors push NC lawmakers to vote no

Hundreds of protesters filled the halls of the legislative building on Tuesday, urging the North Carolina House of Representatives to reject a bill that would ban intoxicating hemp products in the state.

Last month, the Senate passed House Bill 328, which would ban the sale of hemp products with more than 0.4 milligrams of THC in North Carolina. The bill would also prohibit the sale of any hemp products, like CBD, or natural kratom products to anyone under 21, and would outlaw the sale of xylazine and synthetic kratom.

THC is the psychoactive compound in cannabis. Hemp business owners say that the low threshold allowed by the bill would amount to a ban on nearly all hemp products, crippling what advocates say has become a $4 billion industry that employs some 16,000 people in the state. 

Marijuana itself is currently illegal in North Carolina. It’s defined as cannabis with more than 0.3% delta-9 THC. But there are presently no restrictions, including age limits, on other hemp products that include other types of THC compounds. 

In 2015, the legislature allowed the cultivation of “industrial hemp,” and then in 2018, following federal law changes, it allowed the cultivation and sale of hemp products with less than 0.3% delta-9 THC. This created a loophole that allowed the sale of products that contain delta-8 and delta-10, two other intoxicating THC compounds, as well as THCA, a compound that turns into delta-9 THC when burned. 

Law enforcement leaders say the lack of regulation has turned the state into the “Wild West” for cannabis products. They’re largely in favor of an outright ban for adults as well as children.  On Tuesday, dozens of police chiefs, sheriffs, and prosecutors gathered with Republican lawmakers supporting the bill. 

During the press conference, lawmakers and public safety officials said because North Carolina has no age limit, intoxicating hemp products are currently accessible to children. Certain products, they argue, are being marketed towards children, with brightly-colored packaging. Some even mimic popular brands of candy. 

“Some will say this bill will put stores out of business,” said Craven County Sheriff Chip Hughes.“I say if a business depends primarily on selling these dangerous products to our children, then that will indeed be the result.”

Rep. Jimmy Dixon, R-Duplin, said lawmakers made mistakes in the past when they agreed to legalize most hemp products. He said it’s time for a reset on the issue. 

“We’re here today because there were several misguided Republicans in the House,” he said. “Misguided, good people, but deceived.”

Meantime, hundreds of employees, owners and lobbyists for hemp stores gathered in the legislative building to urge lawmakers to vote no on H328 and consider some “common sense regulations” instead of full prohibition. 

Eric Stahli owns Modern Apotheca in Raleigh. His wife has Crohn’s disease and uses hemp products to manage her chronic pain. He agreed that stricter regulations are needed to keep these products out of the hands of children. But he says an outright ban isn’t the answer.

“We’ve been spending the last eight years serving adults, not children, and so we’re here to make sure that our House members and the public know that there are really good actors in this industry that are doing right, and we’re here to get rid of the bad actors,” Stahli said.

“There are bills like SB265 that is a regulatory framework which would establish twenty-one plus requirements, marketing restrictions towards children, and a bunch of other things including testing regulations.” Chris Karis, the owner of Carolindica said “But unfortunately, that’s not what we’re here discussing.”

The bill was spurred on by a looming federal ban on intoxicating hemp products enacted in last year’s farm bill. It’s scheduled to  go into effect in November. However in June, after hemp industry lobbyists rallied to oppose the prohibition, the Trump administration sent a letter to Congress urging them to reverse the ban.