HB680: The Protect Children from Cannabis Act – The Silent Threat to North Carolina’s Hemp Industry
What is HB680?
HB680, also called The Protect Children from Cannabis Act, is a bill recently introduced in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Its primary sponsors are Reps. Reeder, Chesser, and Cotham, with co-sponsorship from 11 other representatives.
While promoted as an age-restriction bill to prevent minors from accessing cannabis products, the deeper language in the bill tells a different story.
What's Inside the Bill?
Representative Reeder has claimed that the bill is purely about protecting children. However, a closer look shows that HB680 restricts all hemp and cannabis-derived product sales to only FDA-approved items.
Currently, the FDA has only approved:
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Epidiolex (a prescription drug for seizures)
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Hemp seeds, hemp seed oil, and hemp protein powder
This means:
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CBD oil? Illegal.
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Delta-8, CBG, or full-spectrum tinctures? Banned.
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Hemp-based wellness products? Gone.
If passed as-is, HB680 would erase nearly the entire hemp and CBD industry in North Carolina.
Industry Reaction: A Wake-Up Call
Lobbyists and advocacy groups are urgently working behind the scenes. Many co-sponsors believed the bill was a simple age restriction law. They were not aware of the FDA-only clause.
Lobbyists are now:
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Meeting with each co-sponsor
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Clarifying the devastating impact
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Requesting changes before the bill advances further
Legislative Status of HB680
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Status | Passed 1st Reading |
| Location | In House Rules, awaiting committee assignment |
| Risk Level | High for all non-FDA hemp products |
Sponsors of HB680
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Primary Sponsors: Reps. Reeder, Chesser, Cotham
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Co-Sponsors: Reps. Biggs, Brisson, G. Brown, Cunningham, F. Jackson, N. Jackson, McNeely, G. Pierce, Price, Rubin, Ward
These names are critical for advocacy efforts. Educating them now could change the trajectory of this bill.
What Can You Do?
If you're in the industry — or simply use CBD for wellness — here's how you can help:
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Call your state representative
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Share this article with peers
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Join or support hemp advocacy groups
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Attend public hearings if scheduled
Final Thoughts
HB680 may have been written to protect children, but as it stands, it could devastate an entire industry built on wellness and innovation. With the right conversations and awareness, there’s still time to rewrite this bill in a way that truly protects both children and the hemp economy.