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PETITION: Amend HB 328 to Protect North Carolina Hemp Businesses and Consumers

To the Honorable Members of the North Carolina General Assembly:

We, the undersigned business owners, farmers, consumers, and citizens of North Carolina, urge you to reject House Bill 328 (HB 328) in its current form.

While we support common-sense regulations—such as implementing reasonable age restrictions and ensuring child-resistant packaging—HB 328 as written goes far beyond consumer safety. It threatens to dismantle a $4 billion industry that supports over 15,000 jobs across our state.

We specifically call for the following amendments before this bill proceeds any further:

1. Remove the "Total THC" Standard

The current language in HB 328 redefines "hemp" by implementing a "Total THC" cap. This standard aggregates Delta-9 THC with other cannabinoids like THCA, Delta-8, and Delta-10. This is a backdoor prohibition. By shifting the metric from a manageable 0.3% Delta-9 THC threshold to an all-encompassing "Total THC" limit, the bill effectively bans the vast majority of legal, non-intoxicating hemp products, including many beneficial CBD products. We demand a definition of hemp that aligns with federal standards without capturing these secondary, non-psychoactive extracts.

2. Implement Smarter, Not Broader, Age Restrictions

We agree that hemp-derived consumables should be kept out of the hands of minors. However, the current bill’s approach to enforcement creates an unworkable "gauntlet" of changing regulations that penalizes law-abiding retailers. We call for clear, standardized age-gating protocols that protect youth without imposing impossible compliance burdens that force local small businesses to close their doors.

3. Protect Small Businesses and Farmers

North Carolina has a rich agricultural history. Our state is uniquely positioned to lead the nation in sustainable hemp cultivation. HB 328, through its combination of restrictive definitions and punitive compliance measures, disproportionately harms small, local operators while favoring large, out-of-state entities that can afford to navigate the regulatory maze.

We, the undersigned, respectfully request that you vote NO on HB 328 unless it is amended to remove the "Total THC" provision and replace it with a fair, practical regulatory framework that keeps our doors open and our products safe.