North Carolina Lawmakers Advance Bill To Regulate Hemp THC Products And Restrict Kratom

*“I wish we had done this back in 2021 when we figured out the whole hemp
problem. The genie is pretty far out of the bottle now, so we’re trying to
stuff it back in.”*

*By Clayton Henkel, NC Newsline*

In a political climate in which Republicans and Democrats rarely find
themselves on the same side, House Bill 328 provided a vehicle for common
ground on Tuesday. Lawmakers praised the bill to regulate hemp-derived
consumables as something that was long overdue in North Carolina.

The new proposed “committee substitute” rolled out in the Senate Health
Care Committee defines hemp-derived cannabinoids to include delta 9 THC,
delta 8, cannabidiol (CBD) and a variety of other synthetic products
derived from hemp. The bill would limit sales to adults 21 and older.

While hemp may legally have 0.3 percent or less THC, lawmakers said some
unregulated products may be delivering a more potent hit than advertised.

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main ingredient in marijuana that
provides users with a high.

Senator Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe) praised Sen. Amy Galey (R-Alamance) for
shepherding the bill through the Senate.

“I wish we had done this back in 2021 when we figured out the whole hemp
problem,” said Mayfield. “The genie is pretty far out of the bottle now, so
we’re trying to stuff it back in.”

HB 328 would also ban hemp-derived consumables on educational property,
requiring local boards of education to have a written policy barring the
products from school grounds along with electronic cigarettes and other
vaping products.

Bill Croft, executive director at NC Respiratory Care Board, joined those
urging regulation of the products that increasingly appear in vape shops.

“I would highly support this simply because vaping is destroying lungs. We
already have a huge problem in North Carolina,” Croft said.

Attorney General Jeff Jackson attended Tuesday’s hearing with his
10-year-old son, Owen.

“While I would trust him with many things, the notion that he can go into
one of these shops and be presented with what is branded as candy by the
misappropriation of actual brands that he’s familiar with like Oreos, like
Sour Patch Kids, to try and sell him an intoxicating substance…the notion
that that is somehow lawful in North Carolina is very difficult for
parents,” said Jackson.

Jackson said even as the legislation evolves with time, his office supports
this initial step forward.

“We have been meeting with Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) over the last
several months in anticipation of a bill like this to talk to them about
what enforcement would actually look like on the ground. They are very well
positioned to move on this,” the attorney general told lawmakers.

Jackson said the Department of Justice was also ready to work with ALE to
aggressively enforce this law to protect kids.

Sen. Benton Sawrey, chairman of the Senate Health Care Committee, said it
was ‘bizarre’ the state had not placed restrictions on these products in
prior sessions.

“I’ve been shocked by the pictures and the packaging that I’ve seen that
these products are sold in,” said Sawrey in acknowledging the colorful
graphics were intended to catch the eye of young consumers.

“It’s not something we would permit [with] anything else.”

Under the legislation, retailers would be prohibited from selling
THC-infused candies and drinks to anyone under 21. Retailers would also be
required to have a valid license to sell hemp-derived consumables.

Producers selling their products illegally could face an initial civil
penalty up to $500. Repeated violations within a three-year period would
result in a $2,000 fine and the revocation of the seller’s license.

A separate section of the bill would add kratom to North Carolina’s list of
controlled substances.

Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia whose leaves are
generally smoked, brewed with tea, or placed into gel capsules. In low
doses it can provide a stimulant effect, but it high doses it has a
sedative effect. Kratom is currently not a controlled substance and is
unregulated and legal under state and federal law.

Sen. Sawrey said he believes there is finally broad consensus to raise the
age and place restrictions on the packaging of these consumables that come
with a potent punch.

“I hope that we’re able to achieve that in this session and get that across
the finish line.”

HB 328 won unanimous support Tuesday in both the Senate Health and Senate
Finance Committees. The measure now moves to the Judiciary Committee as
senators appears intent on fast-tracking the bill ahead of a floor vote.

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Products And Restrict Kratom appeared first on Marijuana Moment.