North Carolina's Democratic governor and Republican House speaker disagree on how far the state should go on marijuana policy, according to a new interview with local outlet The Assembly.
Gov. Josh Stein (D) said the state needs "a well-regulated market that puts public safety and public health at its center," protecting children while accounting for existing adult use. House Speaker Destin Hall (R) countered, "I know our caucus has no interest in doing any sort of marijuana, medicinal or otherwise."
A cannabis commission Stein formed last year recommended the state abandon separate hemp and marijuana frameworks and instead regulate THC as a single molecule, since, in Stein's words, "cannabis is cannabis" regardless of plant variety, and what matters is whether a product produces intoxication.
The comments follow Senate passage of a bill restricting hemp and kratom products, now pending in the House. Hall said the caucus is reviewing the "somewhat complicated bill," aiming to block harmful products and bar sales to those under 21 before acting when the chamber reconvenes later this month. It remains unclear whether Stein would sign hemp restrictions absent broader marijuana legalization.
Medical marijuana bills have repeatedly cleared the Senate in recent sessions but stalled in the House. Rep. Jeffrey McNeely (R) said some House members fear a medical program would lead to recreational legalization, which their constituents oppose. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger said lawmakers may take medical marijuana more seriously after the Trump administration's move to reschedule cannabis federally.
The governor's advisory council, formed last year, issued an April report warning that North Carolina's unregulated hemp market and total marijuana prohibition create risks. "Compared to regulated marijuana frameworks in other states, this environment presents identifiable risks," the report states. The council must submit a final report by December 31.
As attorney general, Stein led a task force under then-Gov. Roy Cooper (D) that recommended decriminalizing marijuana and studying legalization amid racially disparate enforcement. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians opened the state's first dispensary in 2024 despite objections from some Republican members of Congress. Separate Democratic legislation would let voters decide on legalization this November, though Berger called it unlikely to advance. Bipartisan lawmakers are also pushing psychedelics research legislation.
