North Carolina lawmakers are taking what many see as the easiest first step in regulating the state’s booming hemp market: keeping intoxicating products out of kids’ hands.
A House committee has advanced Senate Bill 59, which would make it illegal for anyone under 21 to buy or possess hemp-derived products like Delta-8 gummies, THC-infused drinks, smokable hemp flower, and even kratom. Retailers would also be required to check IDs if they have reason to believe a customer is underage.
The proposal comes as North Carolina continues to wrestle with a hemp industry that has grown rapidly with very few statewide rules. Unlike alcohol and tobacco, there is currently no universal age limit for many hemp-derived products sold in the state.
Supporters of the bill say this isn’t about reopening the broader cannabis debate. Instead, they argue it’s simply common sense to prevent minors from easily accessing intoxicating products sold in gas stations, smoke shops, and convenience stores. Critics, however, point out that age limits are only one piece of a much larger conversation about testing standards, labeling requirements, and how these products should ultimately be regulated.
If approved, businesses caught selling to underage customers could face misdemeanor charges and escalating fines starting at $500 for a first offense. The proposed law would take effect on December 1, 2026.
North Carolina may still be far from embracing legal marijuana, but lawmakers appear to agree on at least one thing: the Wild West approach to hemp sales probably can’t last forever.
Dabbin-Dad Newsroom
