In a significant move to rein in North Carolina's unregulated cannabis market, Governor Josh Stein has announced the formation of a State Advisory Council on Cannabis. According to a press release from the Governor’s Office, the council is tasked with “studying and recommending a comprehensive approach to regulate cannabis sales” in response to an industry currently allowing the sale of high-THC products to individuals of any age. The initiative aims to protect youth while establishing a safe, legal market for adults.
"Our state’s unregulated cannabis market is the wild west and is crying for order," Stein declared, highlighting the lack of enforceable labeling and age restrictions that currently leave minors vulnerable to purchasing intoxicating THC products. The council will include members from diverse sectors, including health, law enforcement, agriculture, and the Cherokee community, signaling an effort focused on broad societal impact. Particular areas of study by the council will include a system for public safety and health, supporting North Carolina agriculture, expunging past THC possession convictions, and directing funding toward addiction and mental health resources, along with drugged driving detection, as per the Governor’s Office.
This push for regulatory clarity comes somewhere amid a market landscape where traditional distinctions between hemp and marijuana have dissolved, blurred by product development that has both forms containing high levels of THC. Governor Stein underscored the urgency of establishing clearer regulatory frameworks, calling on the General Assembly to also take immediate steps to "prohibit the sales of products that contain intoxicating THC to anyone under 21 by requiring photo ID age-verification" and mandate packaging that informs consumers about the exact THC content of products, according to a press release from the Governor’s Office.
The newly formed council's composition reflects a range of expertise, with co-chairs Lawrence H. Greenblatt, MD, the State Health Director & Chief Medical Officer, and Matt Scott, District Attorney for Robeson County leading the helm. Among the noted members are Representative John R. Bell and Senator Kandie D. Smith, figures with legislative influence that could prove pivotal in translating the council's recommendations into actionable policy. Also taking their seats at the table will be David W. Alexander, president of Home Run Markets, and Forrest G. Parker, CEO of Qualla Enterprises LLC, representing both retail and indigenous business interests within the state.
The establishment of the council is not just an administrative motion but an urgent response to the pressing health and safety issues posed by an unregulated market. "The status quo of zero protection of our kids is absolutely unacceptable," the Governor’s Office stated, reinforcing the need for prompt and decisive action. As North Carolina moves forward, Governor Stein's initiative indicates a state-level resolve to fashion a cannabis market that is both responsible and responsive to the complexities of today’s challenges.
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