A Hidden Hemp Ban That Threatens North Carolina’s Economy
Introduction: A Bill That Changes Everything
The hemp industry in North Carolina has become one of the state’s most promising economic sectors. Built on the backs of farmers, family-run businesses, veterans, and entrepreneurs, this industry supports over 100,000 jobs and contributes billions of dollars to our state’s economy. But now, a newly proposed bill — HB328, introduced by Senator Bill Rabon — threatens to dismantle everything North Carolinians have built.
Marketed as a “regulation bill,” HB328 is anything but. This legislation is a thinly veiled ban that would severely restrict — or outright prohibit — the sale of hemp-derived products that are federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill.
Let’s break down what’s really at stake and why SB265, not HB328, is the right path forward.
What HB328 Really Means for Hemp
At first glance, HB328 may appear to be just another regulatory measure. In reality, the bill is designed to crush access, limit choice, and eliminate competition in the name of “public safety.”
Here’s what HB328 would do:
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Impose a 10mg cap on hemp-derived THC and cannabinoid products, rendering most current products illegal overnight.
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Prohibit the sale of common formats like gummies, tinctures, and vapes that thousands rely on for sleep, pain, anxiety, and wellness.
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Shift regulatory power to the Governor’s office, removing checks and balances from the legislative process.
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Mirror language written by Big Marijuana lobbyists — not hemp stakeholders in North Carolina.
It’s important to note: 80% of HB328’s language is borrowed directly from SB265, a bill that has broad industry support. But the remaining 20% includes dangerous and unnecessary provisions that aim to centralize control and eliminate the existing market for legal hemp-derived products.
Who Loses if HB328 Passes?
📉 Small Businesses
Family-owned shops, veteran-run dispensaries, and local wellness brands that operate in full compliance with federal law will be forced to shut down. Unlike large corporations, these businesses don’t have the resources to adapt to sweeping bans or sudden compliance shifts.
👨🌾 Farmers
North Carolina’s hemp farmers have invested years into building a sustainable agricultural model. HB328 would instantly collapse demand for their crops, leading to farm closures, lost income, and economic instability.
👩⚕️ Patients
From veterans with PTSD to seniors managing chronic pain, thousands of North Carolinians rely on hemp-derived products as part of their daily wellness routines. HB328 would strip them of access to products that have changed — and in many cases, saved — their lives.
💼 Workers
With over 100,000 jobs tied to the hemp economy, HB328’s passage could result in massive layoffs, shuttered storefronts, and long-term economic damage in both rural and urban communities.
Who Stands to Gain?
Let’s be real — this bill isn’t about protecting public health. It’s about market control. The only winners if HB328 passes are:
💰 Corporate Marijuana Giants
The same out-of-state marijuana conglomerates that have spent millions lobbying for more control are pushing language like what’s found in HB328. By eliminating legal hemp alternatives, they hope to dominate the market and push consumers into their more expensive, regulated products.
🏛️ Political Gatekeepers
By giving regulatory power solely to the Governor’s office, HB328 removes legislative transparency and hands enormous influence to a small circle of decision-makers. That’s not democracy — that’s a power grab.
The Smarter Solution: SB265
The hemp industry isn’t against regulation. In fact, the majority of stakeholders — including farmers, retailers, scientists, and advocates — support SB265, a bill that was developed with industry input to ensure both safety and sustainability.
SB265 includes:
✅ Reasonable potency limits for minors
✅ Clear packaging and labeling requirements
✅ Required lab testing and COAs
✅ Protections for small businesses and consumer access
Unlike HB328, SB265 doesn’t try to sneak in bans or transfer power behind closed doors. It offers real, thoughtful cannabis policy — built for North Carolina, by North Carolinians.
What This Means for YOU
Even if you don’t work in the hemp industry, this bill still affects you. Here’s why:
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If you use CBD or hemp products for sleep, anxiety, or pain, HB328 could make your wellness routine illegal.
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If you care about small business, job growth, or rural economic development, HB328 could erase entire sectors of your local economy.
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If you believe in fair governance, HB328’s consolidation of power could set a dangerous precedent for how future policy is made in our state.
Do you really want that much power in the hands of Governor Josh Stein, a politician whose stance on cannabis is still unclear? This bill would allow him — and him alone — to decide the future of your access to hemp-derived wellness.
We’ve Seen This Playbook Before
Big corporations have used this tactic for decades:
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Claim there’s a public safety issue
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Propose “regulation” that’s really a ban
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Eliminate competition
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Corner the market
Don’t be fooled by the branding — HB328 isn’t about protecting children, cleaning up the market, or ending bad actors. It’s about corporate monopolization, and the victims will be the very people who helped build this industry from the ground up.
Take Action Now
If we don’t act, this bill WILL pass — and by the time most people realize what happened, it’ll be too late.
Here’s what you can do:
📞 Call Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger
Let him know that you oppose HB328 and support SB265. Tell him to stand up for real regulation — not corporate power grabs.
💬 Spread the Word
Share this blog post. Tell your friends, family, coworkers, and customers. Most people have no idea how dangerous this bill really is.
💰 Donate to the Fight
Your dollars fund the advocacy, legal review, lobbying, and public campaigns we need to stop HB328 in its tracks. Even $10 helps keep this movement alive.
DON’T LET HB328 DESTROY OUR INDUSTRY.
DON’T LET THEM TAKE AWAY YOUR RIGHTS.
FIGHT BACK NOW.