North Carolina Businesses Are Paying the Price While SB265 Sits Idle

While Senate leadership continues to delay SB265, it’s not just consumers who are being put at risk — it’s North Carolina’s own small businesses.

Across the state, countless hemp retailers, farmers, processors, and manufacturers have invested time, money, and resources into building responsible, compliant businesses. They’ve followed the rules, tested their products, and created jobs for local workers — all while navigating a legal gray area with no clear regulations in place.

Without SB265, these businesses are stuck operating in uncertainty.

Every day that passes without regulatory clarity leaves the door wide open for bad actors — companies that sell untested, mislabeled, or unsafe products. These bad actors undercut responsible businesses, damage consumer trust, and give the entire hemp industry a bad reputation.

Legitimate North Carolina businesses don’t want a free-for-all. They want guardrails. They want structure. And most importantly, they want to protect their customers.

SB265 offers exactly that:

• A clear legal framework for selling hemp-derived consumable products

• Mandatory product testing to ensure safety and quality

• Licensing requirements to keep bad actors out of the market

• Consumer protections that help grow trust in the industry

• A level playing field for businesses committed to doing things right

The Cost of Delay Is Mounting

Every month this bill sits idle, more businesses lose confidence. Some will scale back, others will shut down entirely, and many will be forced to compete with companies cutting corners to boost profits.

At a time when North Carolina could be leading the way with one of the strongest, safest hemp industries in the country, we are instead watching responsible businesses pay the price for political delay.

It’s Time to Act

Senator Rabon’s refusal to move SB265 forward doesn’t just hurt families—it hurts the very small businesses that drive North Carolina’s economy.

We need leadership to stop playing politics with people’s livelihoods.

📞 Call Senator Rabon: (919) 733-5963
📧 Email: bill.rabon@ncleg.gov

Tell him to stop blocking SB265 and stand with North Carolina’s businesses.