Hemp store owners, patients say proposed law will effectively ban all cannabis products

RALEIGH, N.C. – Hemp industry advocates say a bill under consideration in the state legislature would ban all cannabis sales in the state. They say HB 328 will shut down stores and leave tens of thousands of people unemployed.

“This law puts me out of business with nothing,” Sam Post, Owner of PhenomWell Hemp Dispensary in Salisbury said.

Sam Post stood alongside fellow business owners, medical professionals and patients asking North Carolina lawmakers to vote against HB 328. The bill has already been approved in the senate.

“They need to regulate the products without putting the whole industry out of business. It’s $4 billion of economic activity,” Post said.

Law enforcement groups like North Carolina Highway Patrol and the Sheriff’s Association are supporting this bill to outlaw sales and possession by underage kids. The bill ends the sale of any products with more than 0.4 milligrams of THC. Advocates say will stop the sale of almost all THC and CBD drinks and edibles.

“What happens with any ban is that you take the people that are following the rules out of the market, but it doesn’t do anything to the people who aren’t following the rules,” David Thomas, Chief Strategy Officer with Delta Beverage said.

Some patients use the products to avoid opioids and other prescription drugs.

“I was willing to risk my life for service to this country. Please don’t force me to go back to the path where prescription medications slowly destroyed my body,” James Robinette, patient and veteran said.

Hemp is unregulated in most states leaving the door open for anyone to buy, but many owners say they check ID anyway. They say HB 328 will push people to the black market creating another public safety issue.

“The demand will continue. They will just buy it illegally. The products will be less safe. They’ll be getting them outta somebody, the trunk of somebody’s car,” Post said.

Back in April, the Department of Justice reclassified state-regulated medical cannabis to the same tier as Tylenol which some say signals that the feds are recognizing its medical value. The state house is expected to take up the bill this week.