A nationwide ban on intoxicating hemp‑derived products is slated to take effect this autumn, which would cause most of the cannabinoid items currently on store shelves in North Carolina—where cannabis remains fully prohibited—to vanish.
As previously covered by the Citizen Times, the changes stem from Public Law 119‑37, nicknamed the “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” which would prohibit more than 95 % of all hemp extracts, including many that do not produce a high. President Donald Trump signed the legislation in November 2025 to resolve a government shutdown; exactly one year later, on November 13 2026, the ban becomes federal law.
Analysts warn the forthcoming restriction could heavily impact communities where hemp products have grown into a notable sector. Rod Kight, an Asheville‑based attorney focusing on cannabis law, told the Citizen Times that western North Carolina stands out as a region likely to feel the brunt of the change.
“The rule caps allowable THC at 0.4 %,” Kight explained. “That essentially removes any intoxicating hemp product from the market. What many miss is that the measure could effectively dismantle the entire hemp industry.”
Here’s a summary of how cannabis‑related regulations in North Carolina are expected to shift this November.
Is hemp being banned?
According to the Cannabis Business Times, Section 781 of Public Law 119‑37—signed by Trump in November 2025 as part of the shutdown‑ending agreement—is scheduled to go into force on November 13 2026.
The provision bans intoxicating hemp‑derived cannabinoids and redefines hemp to incorporate a 0.3 % total THC limit, closing a loophole from the 2018 Farm Bill that had inadvertently allowed a legal market for certain intoxicating cannabinoids. It also prohibits hemp‑derived products that contain cannabinoids created outside the plant, such as delta‑8 THC.
Earlier reporting from the Citizen Times noted that the law would eliminate items like delta‑8 and delta‑10 gummies, THC‑infused beverages, vape cartridges, and THCA‑rich “hemp flower,” leaving only products with virtually no THC able to stay on shelves.
Is medical marijuana legal in NC? Recreational?
Marijuana remains illegal for both medical and recreational use in North Carolina, although the state has decriminalized possession of small amounts meant for personal use. In such cases, offenders typically face civil or local penalties rather than state criminal charges.
Leaves on a hemp plant are seen at Franny’s Farmacy in Leicester, N.C., on June 24 2026.
Will the hemp ban affect North Carolina? What is Senate Bill 1072?
Because the hemp restriction is federal, hemp‑derived cannabinoid products will also be re‑criminalized in North Carolina this November. Meanwhile, state Senate Bill 1072 could move in the opposite direction.
SB 1072 would not legalize the full sale and purchase of marijuana, but its enactment would bring notable changes.
The bill, also described as “an act to amend the constitution of North Carolina to provide for the qualified decriminalization and medical use of cannabis,” would permit individuals to possess limited amounts of cannabis for personal use. It would also decriminalize the possession of limited amounts of cannabis for medical purposes by patients with qualifying conditions.
For the measure to appear on the November 2026 ballot, legislators must first pass it. SB 1072 cleared its initial reading on May 5. If it reaches the ballot, voters will decide between two options:
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“Constitutional amendment allowing the possession of limited amounts of cannabis for personal use subject to certain conditions enacted by the General Assembly”
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“Constitutional amendment allowing the possession of cannabis for medical use by patients with qualifying conditions subject to certain conditions enacted by the General Assembly”
Is weed legal in Cherokee, North Carolina?
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians voted in 2021 to authorize the sale of medical marijuana within its tribal territory, known as the Qualla Boundary. As a sovereign nation, the tribe maintains its own elections, laws, government, and institutions, which enables it to permit marijuana sales even though the land lies within North Carolina’s borders.
Which states have legal recreational marijuana?
Based on a February 10 report from the Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation, the 24 states where marijuana is fully legal for adult use are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
Which states have legal medical marijuana?
An additional 16 states have approved marijuana for medical use only: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Federal hemp ban on the way as NC eyes ‘limited’ marijuana bill
