Governor Stein forms state council to regulate North Carolina's cannabis market – WLOS
Now
37°
Sat
22°
Sun
22°
for all of WNC, northeastern Georgia and the Upstate. Dangerously cold wind chills -10s & -20s expected. As low as -30 on ridges.
WEATHER WARN DAYS Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday for a frigid cold storm system that could bring snow and gusty winds.
For all of our area from 4 P.M. Friday to 7 A.M. Sunday for heavy snow, travel impacts, winds to 55 mph and blowing snow.
by Marisa Sardonia&Marc Liverman
RALEIGH, N.C. (WLOS) — Governor Josh Stein announced Wednesday the formation of a State Advisory Council on Cannabis to address the unregulated cannabis market in North Carolina.
"Today, all across North Carolina, there are unregulated intoxicating THC products available for purchase: just walk into any vape shop. There is no legal minimum age to purchase these products! That means that kids are buying them," Stein said, in part, via press release Wednesday. "Let's get this right and create a safe, legal market for adults that protects kids."
Stein said that without enforceable labeling requirements, adults in North Carolina are recreationally using these products without full awareness of how much THC they are consuming.
SEEING GREEN: EBCI POT SALES SURGE, LOCAL IMPACT AND FUTURE PLANS DISCUSSED
The State Advisory Council on Cannabis will be tasked with "studying and recommending a comprehensive approach to regulate cannabis sales," Stein said via the release.
The council will create a system that "protects youth, allows adult sales, ensures public safety, promotes public health, supports North Carolina agriculture, expunges past convictions of simple THC possession, and invests the revenues in resources for addiction, mental health, and drugged driving detection," per the release.
Stein signed the executive order to create the council on Tuesday, May 3.
Stein urged the General Assembly to take immediate action by prohibiting the sale of products containing "intoxicating" THC to anyone under 21 and requiring photo ID to verify a buyer's age. Stein also called for packaging that clearly indicates the contents and THC levels of all cannabis products.
NC POISON CONTROL WARNS OF INCREASED CANNABIS EXPOSURE IN CHILDREN
"The status quo of zero protection of our kids is absolutely unacceptable," Stein said via the release. "Let's work together on a thoughtful, comprehensive solution that allows sales to adults and that is grounded in public safety and health."
Head of product at Asheville Dispensary on Haywood Road, Adriana Barnes said there are both positives and negatives for the industry when it comes to this new council.
“What is important is that consumers have accurate packaging, they’re educated on the products that they’re consuming; that children do not have access to products that can be very psychoactive,” Barnes said.
But she added that the council’s recommendations could harm small businesses.
“Making it to the point that regulations are so tight, it makes small business impossible to thrive," Barnes said.
Barnes believes North Carolina’s cannabis industry can handle the stricter regulations, if it has enough time to adapt.
Representatives for the State Advisory Council on Cannabis will include officials from the Office of State Budget and Management, the State Highway Patrol, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the General Assembly and the Departments of Health and Human Services, Public Safety, Revenue, Transportation and Justice.
The committee is expected to start meeting in July and will be meeting every second month until December 31, 2026. That is when the committee plans on putting out its final recommendations.
Click this link for a full list of North Carolina leaders who will serve as the co-chairs and members of the newly formed council.
2026 Sinclair, Inc.