Stein creates cannabis advisory council to regulate state's THC market
Gov. Josh Stein announced on Tuesday the creation of a State Advisory Council on Cannabis, calling for urgent action to regulate North Carolina's unregulated THC market, which he said poses serious risks to young people.
ALSO READ: Texas considers banning products infused with THC derived from hemp, and retailers are worried
Stein said there's currently no legal age restriction for purchasing THC products in the state and warned that kids can easily buy them at vape shops.
The new council will study best practices from other states and recommend a comprehensive plan for safe, legal adult-use cannabis sales, including one that also protects children, supports public health and agriculture, and addresses past low-level convictions.
'Today all across North Carolina, there are unregulated intoxicating THC products available for purchase: just walk into any vape shop,' Stein said in a news release. 'There is no legal minimum age to purchase these products! That means that kids are buying them. Without any enforceable labeling requirements, adults are using them recreationally without knowing what is in them or how much THC there is. Our state's unregulated cannabis market is the wild west and is crying for order. Let's get this right and create a safe, legal market for adults that protects kids.'
At 5 p.m. on Channel 9, we will breakdown this executive order.
VIDEO: Illegal THC products found in North Carolina shops, authorities say
Members of the State Advisory Council on Cannabis are:
Co-chairs
Lawrence H. Greenblatt, MD, State Health Director & Chief Medical Officer, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Matt Scott, District Attorney, Prosecutorial District 20 (Robeson County)
Members
David W. Alexander, Owner and President, Home Run Markets, LLC
Arthur E. Apolinario, MD, MPH, FAAFP, 2002-2023 Past President, North Carolina Medical Society; Family Physician, Clinton Medical Clinic
Joshua C. Batten, Assistant Director for Special Services, Alcohol Law Enforcement Division, North Carolina Department of Public Safety
Representative John R. Bell, North Carolina House of Representatives, District 10
Carrie L. Brown, MD, MPH, DFAPA, Chief Psychiatrist, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Mark M. Ezzell, Director, North Carolina Governor's Highway Safety Program, North Carolina Department of Transportation
Anca E. Grozav, Chief Deputy Director, North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management
Representative Zack A. Hawkins, North Carolina House of Representatives, District 31
Colonel Freddy L. Johnson, Jr., Commander, North Carolina State Highway Patrol
Michael Lamb, Police Chief, City of Asheville Police Department
Peter H. Ledford, Deputy Secretary for Policy, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Kimberly McDonald, MD, MPH, Chronic Disease and Injury Section Chief, Division of Public Health, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Patrick Oglesby, Attorney and Founder, Center for New Revenue
Forrest G. Parker, CEO / General Manager, Qualla Enterprises LLC / Great Smoky Cannabis Company
Senator Bill P. Rabon, North Carolina Senate, District 8
Lillie L. Rhodes, Legislative Counsel, Administrative Office of the Courts
Gary H. Sikes, Owner, Bountiful Harvest Farm and Partner, Legacy Fiber Technologies
Senator Kandie D. Smith, North Carolina Senate, District 5
Keith Stone, Sheriff, Nash County
Joy Strickland, Senior Deputy Attorney General, Criminal Bureau of the North Carolina Department of Justice
Deonte' L. Thomas, Chief, Wake County Public Defender Office
Missy P. Welch, Director of Programming (Permits/Audit/Product Sections), Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission
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