Gastonia, N.C. — The North Carolina Faith & Freedom Coalition today praised the General Assembly for advancing House Bill 328 and called on the House to pass the conference report without delay.
For years, intoxicating hemp-derived products have been sold with almost no oversight in convenience stores and smoke shops across the state. Many of these outlets have become predatory to minors through easy access and packaging designed to appeal to young people. The Senate overwhelmingly adopted the conference report on July 2. House Bill 328 finally addresses this failure by setting a firm 21+ age limit, establishing real penalties, regulating kratom, and aligning North Carolina law with updated federal hemp standards.
“Protecting children must always come before protecting predators and profits,” said Jason Williams, Executive Director of the North Carolina Faith & Freedom Coalition. “Intoxicating products should never be marketed or sold to minors. This bill represents a meaningful first step in closing dangerous loopholes. The House should finish the job, and Governor Stein should sign this bipartisan legislation into law.”
