North Carolina Governor Establishes Cannabis Advisory Council Amid Unregulated THC Market

LOS ANGELES- North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has issued an executive order forming a 24–30 member North Carolina Advisory Council on Cannabis to develop policy recommendations aimed at regulating cannabis products and formalizing legalization strategies, including adult-use proposals.

The council will convene beginning July 2025 at least every other month until December 2026, submitting preliminary recommendations by March 15, 2026 and a final report by year-end. Its mandate includes:

• Establishing age limits, potency and purity standards, and retail oversight features

• Integrating lessons from other states’ regulatory frameworks

• Proposing tax structures and outlining expungement guidelines for past THC convictions.

• Allocating projected cannabis tax revenue toward addiction treatment, mental health, and impaired driving initiatives

Governor Stein, who began his term in January 2025, highlighted the state’s “Wild West” cannabis landscape—where hemp-derived products containing high THC circulate unregulated, accessible by minors—to underscore the need for reform. He supports permitting adults over 21 to purchase cannabis, while imposing strict protections for youth and public health.

Although North Carolina currently bans both medical and recreational cannabis statewide, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have legal sales on tribal lands since September 2024. Meanwhile, unauthorized high‑THC hemp products are widely accessible in vape stores near schools

Governor Stein’s approach reflects a sequential strategy: contain the current unregulated THC market, lay a legislative foundation, and prepare for formal legalization. By involving stakeholders across state agencies, tribes, enforcement, and agriculture, the council aims to balance growth opportunities with oversight. Still, ultimate authority rests with the Republican-controlled General Assembly, which must enact any legalization framework