Connect with us

Cannabis News

North Carolina Senate Passes Bill To Restrict Hemp THC And Kratom Products

Published

2 weeks ago

on

“If there are people who want to legalize marijuana, they can introduce that bill, we’ll talk about it.”

By Brandon Kingdollar, NC Newsline

On the last day before going home for nearly a month, North Carolina senators voted to ban most cannabis products sold in the state.

The version of House Bill 328 that passed the Senate would have banned all intoxicating hemp products in North Carolina. Intoxicating hemp products are defined as any with a total THC content of more than 0.4 milligrams. THC is the compound responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis. Hemp business owners say the ban will ban almost all products from the market.

The bill would also ban the sale of hemp consumables to anyone under the age of 21, and ban xylazine and synthetic kratom, two other substances that have raised health concerns. Sales of natural kratom would also be restricted to people over the age of 21.

It’s the latest in a back-and-forth between the state House and Senate over what regulatory framework should be put in place for substances that have been widely used in recent years. Kratom and potent hemp derivatives can be found on the shelves of almost any gas station in the state.

The Chamber was already in session when the senators voted to approve the bill. But Senate President Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) said the crisis caused by these substances was too serious to wait until lawmakers return at the end of July.

“The personal loss that has occurred in the state of North Carolina as a result of these products cannot and must not be delayed any longer,” Berger told members of the media after Thursday’s session. “We have reached a point where doing nothing was not an option.”

The lack of regulation surrounding hemp derivatives, which hit the market en masse after federal regulations allowed them to be sold in 2018, has sparked bipartisan concern, reflected in the Senate’s 43-6 vote to pass the bill.

Sen. Paul Lowe (D-Forsyth) said he supports the bill because of the dire need for regulation of the hemp industry.

“Some of these products sold in these stores, which come from other countries, cannot even be sold in the country they come from,” Lowe said. “I have absolutely no problem voting for this bill because I don’t think this thing is safe.”

The state’s child mortality task force reported in 2025 that since 2019, emergency room visits have increased 600% for cannabis-related minors. Rep. Jimmy Dixon (R-Duplin) cited the case of a 14-year-old hospitalized after purchasing an intoxicating hemp product. The House debated its own version of the bill last month.

Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch (D-Wake) said she supported the bill primarily because of restrictions on “gas station drugs that really hurt our constituents,” such as kratom, which has led to an increase in health emergencies. He was more skeptical about his approach to hemp, raising concerns that non-intoxicating products with legitimate medical uses would be hijacked.

“What I’m hoping we can do, as far as the next month we’re not here, is sit down, give our ideas, see if they can put it into a conference call that goes to the many farmers in North Carolina who are growing hemp, so they don’t go bankrupt,” Batch said.

The invoice It follows a federal ban on intoxicating hemp products that was enacted last year as part of the Farm Bill, but has yet to take effect. Hemp industry lobbyists have rallied to overturn the ban before it takes effect in November.

Those efforts appear to be paying off, according to a letter to Congress last month The Trump administration asked Congress to reverse itself and keep these hemp products legal.

Berger said passing the ban at the state level ensures North Carolinians will be protected regardless of what the federal government does.

“What we’ve put in place, or what we’re trying to put in place, hopefully the House will pass the conference report, is a ban on intoxicating hemp products,” he said. “And if the feds decide they don’t want to do that as we go forward, North Carolina would still ban intoxicants.”

It left the door open to relaxing some restrictions in the future.

“If there are people who want to legalize marijuana, they can introduce that bill, we’ll talk about it,” Berger said. “If there are people who want a specific regulatory scheme on some of these things that would allow people over the age of 21 to buy, let’s introduce a bill and let’s see.”

The Senate version of the bill goes further than the House version, which would have imposed a 21-year age limit on hemp-derived consumables but would have otherwise left the market undisturbed, banning a wide range of hemp-derived products currently being sold. The Senate also requires consumers to be 21 for products that remain legal.

Advocates for loosening marijuana restrictions also supported the bill. Sen. Bill Rabon (R-Brunswick), the architect of the bill that almost succeeded in legalizing medical marijuana in North Carolina, issued a fiery rebuke Friday to hemp products being sold across the state.

“The big players and the people who want to make money can’t make the money they want to make, they can’t catch the people they want to catch, in a regulated product,” Rabon said. “So if that’s the case, we have to get rid of everything. There’s no other option.”

The House will have a chance to take up the Senate’s version of the bill when they return to session on July 27. It is not clear whether they will agree to this or not.

This story was first published by NC Newsline.

Marijuana Moment is made possible with the help of readers. If you rely on our pro-cannabis journalism to stay informed, consider a monthly Patreon pledge.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Cannabis News

Will the top World Cup expert in the fruit, vegetable, and horticulture sector come from Canada, the U.S. or Belgium?

Published

15 hours ago

on

July 20, 2026

By






FreshPublishers 2026 World Cup Group Stage






The World Cup is coming to an end, with the third-place play-off between France and England on Saturday, and the final between Spain and Argentina the following day. It won’t be long until the grand winner of FreshPublishers’ first World Cup pool is revealed.

© Fresh Publishers

As previously reported, Slim Kooli from Courchesne Laros is the favorite to win the €1,000 prize. He has secured a comfortable lead over Nol Batist of North American Interstate Greenhouse Company, while buyer Bjorn Van Ryckeghem of Deprez Construct is currently in third place.

1 Sim School Spain 1–0 2–1 737 9716
2 Nol Batist France 2–1 1–1 674 9433
3 Bjorn Van Ryckeghem France 2–2 3–1 674 9264
4 Christian Anton Smedshaug England 1–2 1–2 659 9134
5 Perry Springintveld Spain 1–1 2–1 647 9105
6 Willem Tijssen Spain 2–0 2–1 710 9098
7 Hans Borsboom Spain 2–1 2–1 528 9058
8 Bart Triemstra Spain 2–1 2–1 737 9052
9 Youness Bensaid Spain 2–1 1–1 722 8954
10 Vijay Dijkstra Portugal 2–0 2–1 382 8953

However, there have been some surprises during the tournament, and bonus points must be added, so we will keep the suspense a little longer. On Monday we will find out who is the main World Cup announcer in the international fruit, vegetable and horticulture sector…



Publication date:













Continue Reading

Cannabis News

States Move To Let First Responders Use Marijuana And Psychedelics To Treat PTSD

Published

15 hours ago

on

July 20, 2026

By

“When you’re in the fire service, or in any of the first response industries, or especially in the military, things are going to accumulate over time, and what happens is you see a lot of things, crazy things that at least seem normal.”

By Amanda Watford, Stateline

This year more states have looked beyond traditional counseling and medication to help first responders deal with traumatic stress.

Firefighters, police, and emergency medical personnel routinely experience fatal accidents, violent crimes, and other traumatic events that can leave lasting psychological scars.

“When you’re in the fire service, or the first response industry, or especially the military, things just pile up over time, and what happens is you see a lot of things, crazy things that at least seem normal,” said Jason Cerrano, a retired firefighter and paramedic with more than 20 years of experience in Missouri. Cerrano is now director of research and commercial development at IDEX Fire & Safety.

In Ohio, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law last month a measure that will create the Post-Traumatic Injuries Commission to review requests from first responders to help cover treatment costs.

Maryland took a different approach this year, enacting a law protecting firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and other rescue workers. employment discrimination for the illegal use of medical marijuana outside of work.

The new law, which will take effect in October, applies to medical cannabis patients who test positive for cannabis metabolites but are impaired while working.

Several other states are exploring emerging therapies.

A new Connecticut law expands a pilot program at Yale University studying psilocybin-assisted therapy Allowing any state resident 18 years of age or older to participate, provided they meet clinical eligibility criteria established by the Yale University Institutional Review Board. Previously, the pilot program was limited to veterans, retired first responders and frontline healthcare workers.

Missouri lawmakers advanced a bill allowing veterans and first responders to receive the psychedelics psilocybin and ibogaine in approved research studies. Under medical supervision for PTSD and other mental health conditions. The legislative session adjourned in May before lawmakers sent a bill to the governor.

This story was first published by Stateline.

Image courtesy of Kristie Gianopulos.

Marijuana Moment is made possible with the help of readers. If you rely on our pro-cannabis journalism to stay informed, consider a monthly Patreon pledge.

Continue Reading

Cannabis News

Standard Wellness expands into Cleveland with dispensary acquisition

Published

2 days ago

on

July 19, 2026

By

Standard Wellness has entered into an agreement with License in the Flats, LLC to enter into definitive agreements to acquire a dispensary license in the Flats following the required regulatory review period. At the end of that period, the company and License in the Flats intend to execute those agreements and then continue to develop the dispensary into a retail location branded The Forest Cleveland.

Following regulatory approval of the change of ownership by the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control, the new dispensary will become the Company’s first retail location in the city of Cleveland, where the Company is headquartered.

Additionally, the Company announced the divestiture of The Forest Sandusky and The Forest Springfield, its Ohio dispensaries, to Greenlight, again subject to pending regulatory approvals.

“We are excited to expand our presence in the city of Cleveland and serve guests in our hometown,” said Kate Ols, Vice President of Retail for Standard Wellness. “As our business continues to grow, we are focused on building a retail network that will best position us to serve our communities for the long term. At the same time, we are proud of the role our Sandusky and Springfield dispensaries have played in Ohio’s cannabis history, and we are confident that those communities will continue to grow under Greenlight’s leadership.”

Standard Wellness and Greenlight are working closely together to support a smooth transition for staff and guests throughout the transfer process. As established operators in Ohio and Missouri, the companies share a commitment to strengthening the regulated cannabis industry and serving the communities in which they operate.

The new dispensary is expected to serve both local residents and visitors while completing the Company’s Northeast Ohio footprint.

Under Ohio law, a cannabis operator cannot hold more than eight dispensary licenses statewide. The acquisition of the Cleveland license and divestiture of The Forest Sandusky and The Forest Springfield allows Standard Wellness to continue to meet Ohio’s property limits while strategically repositioning its Ohio retail footprint and focusing investments in key markets.

Forest Sandusky and Forest Springfield have played significant roles in the evolution of Ohio’s cannabis industry. Sandusky was the site of the state’s first legal cannabis sale in January 2019, and Springfield became the first part of Ohio’s cannabis industry merger and acquisition transaction when Standard Wellness purchased Pure Ohio Wellness’ dispensary.

For more information:
Standard Wellness Holdings
standardwellness.com/

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending

Copyright © 2021 The Art of MaryJane Media