NC has no age limits on intoxicating hemp products kids can buy. Here’s what to know
Intoxicating hemp gummies, vapes and drinks sit on shelves in gas stations and vape shops across North Carolina with no age restrictions preventing children from purchasing them.
The North Carolina Advisory Council on Cannabis, created by Gov. Josh Stein, is calling for a regulated adult-use cannabis market, but top Republican lawmakers are already pushing back.
Here are key takeaways:
• There is no law preventing minors from buying intoxicating hemp products in North Carolina. Stein called the state’s unregulated cannabis market “the wild west” and urged lawmakers to “create a safe, legal market for adults that protects kids.”
• Hemp-derived products that can get users high are widely available in formats like gummies, vapes and drinks at gas stations and vape shops statewide. While hemp is legal, some products contain compounds like delta-8 THC that cause intoxication.
• Legislative action remains uncertain. Lawmakers return to Raleigh on April 21, but two top Republican lawmakers have spoken out against legalization. The legislature has failed across numerous years to agree on medical marijuana or hemp regulations.
• Health risks for young people are a major concern. Rep. Timothy Reeder, an emergency physician and Ayden Republican, warned during a legislative hearing of “a four times higher likelihood of psychosis when young adults use marijuana.” Some evidence has linked cannabis use to earlier onset of psychosis in people with genetic risk factors for psychotic disorders, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
• North Carolinians spent about $3 billion on illegal marijuana in 2022, making it the second-largest illicit cannabis market in the country, according to the council’s interim report.
• The council’s final report isn’t due until December 2026. North Carolina is one of only 10 states without a regulated adult-use marijuana market or medical marijuana program.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 8:00 AM with the headline "NC has no age limits on intoxicating hemp products kids can buy. Here’s what to know."
