A new North Carolina Senate proposal would create a 21-year-old age requirement for purchasing or possessing hemp products, including foods and beverages infused with delta-8 or delta-9. WRAL News reports.
Bipartisan Senate Bill 59 passed the House Rules Committee on Wednesday. The proposal would also set the age requirement for purchasing kratom at 21.
The issue is popular with both Republicans and Democrats, and Gov. Josh Stein (D) has also called for better regulation of the products, but previous efforts have failed.
“We have the good sense to put an age limit on these types of products, which is the lowest hanging fruit there is.” — Rep. state Rep. Jimmy Dixon (R), in a statement to the House Agriculture and Environment Committee
A spokesman for the governor’s office said the administration is reviewing the bill.
“Earlier this year, the NC Cannabis Advisory Council issued an interim report with informed guidance to the General Assembly to address the unregulated sale of cannabis in North Carolina, including recommending a minimum age requirement,” the spokesperson said in the report. “The governor is eager to work with the Legislature to protect our children and bring order to this Wild West marketplace.”
If passed into law, the age limit would go into effect on December 1, 2026.
