RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – The state’s law legalizing hemp and CBD products will expire later this week, which could lead to many business owners suddenly finding their products are illegal again, prompting them to urge state lawmakers on Tuesday to act quickly.
“It is literally the 11th hour,” said Eric Stahl, owner of Modern Apotheca in Raleigh.
Though both the state Senate and House of Representatives have passed separate bills that would keep hemp legal, they have not yet agreed on one bill to send to Gov. Roy Cooper (D) to sign ahead of Thursday’s deadline.
The state made hemp legal in 2015 through a pilot program that expires June 30.
Since then, the federal government has legalized hemp but North Carolina would have to conform its laws to that decision. Otherwise, hemp will be treated the same as marijuana under state law on Friday.
Stahl says as a small business owner he worries about providing for his kids.
“I signed them up for summer camp this summer. I’m afraid I’m going to have to tell them I can’t pay the summer camp tuition because I don’t know if I’m going to have a small business in existence in July. That is crazy,” he said.
Ian Brown, a store manager at Nature’s Releaf in Raleigh, said he’s benefited not just from being employed in the industry but also using some of the products he sells.
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