RALEIGH – Over the past 10 months, a 24-member panel appointed by North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has convened to formulate a comprehensive solution to the unregulated sale of cannabis throughout the state. In its interim report released on April 2, the North Carolina Advisory Council on Cannabis has proposed the legalization of cannabis to a certain extent, recommending the use of state-licensed retailers to sell cannabis to adults.
“Our state’s unregulated cannabis market today is the Wild West and is crying for order,” Gov. Stein stated following the release of the panel’s interim report. “Let’s get this right. Let’s protect our kids and create a safe, legal, and well-regulated market for adults.”
Current State of Cannabis in North Carolina
The Council’s report highlights that North Carolina is among only 10 states and three U.S. territories lacking a regulated adult-use marijuana market or medical marijuana program. Consequently, the state reportedly has one of the largest illicit marijuana markets in the United States, with an estimated $3 billion spent on illegal marijuana in 2022, the latest year for which data is available.
Furthermore, the report notes that North Carolina’s market for intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoid products is substantial. “These products have proliferated across the state through retail storefronts, vape shops, convenience stores, and online vendors,” the report states. “Intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoid products, often marketed as legal alternatives to marijuana, are being sold in an environment lacking uniform standards for manufacturing, testing, labeling, packaging, or age verification, and without any enforcement or oversight authority.”
Raising Concerns on Public Safety
As a result of these issues, the Council describes the current cannabis marketplace in North Carolina as a “wild west” environment. “North Carolinians – including our youth – can legally purchase intoxicating hemp-derived products devoid of any potency limits, standardized laboratory testing, or clear labeling requirements, raising significant and widespread concerns regarding consumer safety, youth access, and public health,” the report indicates.
The absence of statewide enforcement authority and regulatory frameworks has generated uncertainty for consumers, responsible businesses, healthcare providers, educators, parents, and law enforcement. Most importantly, this situation has put North Carolinians at risk.
The Path Forward and Mississippi Context
The Council emphasizes that the authority to bring order to the unregulated and unsafe cannabis market lies with the General Assembly. “The role of the Council, therefore, is an advisory one,” the report explains. “Simply stated, the real question to the Council is as follows: If the General Assembly acts to regulate North Carolina’s existing intoxicating cannabis market, what is the best framework for our state?”
This discussion around regulation is particularly relevant to states like Mississippi, where evolving cannabis policies and emerging markets present both challenges and opportunities for businesses. As states across the nation navigate competitive cannabis landscapes, North Carolina’s approach could offer valuable insights for similar regulatory efforts.