Some fear North Carolina's hemp industry is in jeopardy with law set to expire
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — There's some concern that North Carolina's thriving hemp and CBD industry could come to an end, with an important law sunsetting soon.
The state's Hemp Pilot Program expired in January, handing oversight of the industry in North Carolina over to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
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Franny Tacy, a local pioneer in the hemp industry and owner of Franny's Farmacy, said the state bill that created the Hemp Pilot Program and that regulates the industry carved out hemp from the state's controlled substances law's definition of marijuana, making it legal.
That bill has an expiration date of June 30, 2022, so some are worried that if the bill expires with no further action by legislators, hemp could technically become illegal again in the state.
Tacy said there's no need for people in the industry to panic. She said she and other advocates are working with state leaders to clarify and ensure hemp remains lawful in North Carolina.
"We need to handle this just like we always have, with our legislators, with educated people within the industry," she said. "And we'll get to a conclusion that works and benefits all, and hemp will continue to thrive."
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The N.C. Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services provided the following statement to News 13:
NC hemp producers fall under USDA’s federal hemp program since the NC Industrial hemp pilot program has expired. NCDA&CS supports conforming state law with the federal definition of hemp.
