North Carolina HB 680: The Protect Children from Cannabis Act.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 680

Short Title: The Protect Children from Cannabis Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Reeder, Chesser, and Cotham (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 3, 2025
*H680-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO REGULATE THE SALE AND DISTRIBUTION OF HEMP-DERIVED 2
CONSUMABLE PRODUCTS. 3
Whereas, changes to federal law in 2018 related to hemp and associated changes in 4
State law have resulted in a surge in the manufacture and sale of intoxicating cannabis products 5
in North Carolina; and 6
Whereas, these products are being sold by retailers like vape shops, gas stations, and 7
convenience stores, as well as online, in various forms such as candy, baked goods, snack foods, 8
beverages, and vape pens; and 9
Whereas, these products may contain high levels of intoxicating cannabis, however, 10
there are no State laws or regulations addressing age limits for the sale of these products, and 11
there is no system for identifying or regulating the retailers who sell these products; and 12
Whereas, evidence shows that young children and youth can have severe reactions to 13
ingesting cannabis, including respiratory depression requiring respiratory support, confusion, and 14
intoxication; and 15
Whereas, evidence also shows that cannabis use during adolescence and young 16
adulthood may harm the developing brain, and youth who use intoxicating cannabis can 17
experience multiple negative impacts such as: problems with memory, learning, school and social 18
life; impaired driving; the potential for addiction; and increased risk of mental health issues, 19
including depression, anxiety, psychosis, schizophrenia, and suicidal behaviors; and 20
Whereas, since 2019 and following this surge in the availability of intoxicating 21
cannabis products, the rate of emergency department visits in North Carolina for intoxicating 22
cannabis ingestion (THC ingestion) among children and youth ages 17 and under increased more 23
than 600 percent by 2023, and among older teens the rate increased more than 1,000 percent; and 24
Whereas, the State must protect its children under the age of 21 from intoxicating 25
cannabis products that can harm their health, development, and safety; Now, therefore, 26
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 27
SECTION 1. The General Statutes are amended by adding a new Chapter to read: 28
"Chapter 18D. 29
"Regulation of Hemp-Derived Consumable Products. 30
"Article 1. 31
"Definitions and Authority. 32
"§ 18D-100. Definitions. 33
Unless the context requires otherwise, the following definitions apply in this Article: 34
(1) ALE Division. – As defined in G.S. 18B-101. 35

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 680-First Edition
(2) Commission. – As defined in G.S. 18B-101. 1
(3) Consumer. – An individual who purchases, receives, or possesses 2
hemp-derived consumable products for personal consumption and not for 3
resale. 4
(4) Delivery sale. – A sale of hemp-derived consumable products to a consumer 5
in this State in which either of the following applies: 6
a. The consumer submits the order for the sale by telephone, mail, the 7
internet or other online service or application, or when the seller is 8
otherwise not in the physical presence of the consumer when the 9
consumer submits the order. 10
b. The hemp-derived consumable products are delivered via mail or a 11
delivery service. 12
(5) Delivery seller. – A person located within or outside this State who makes a 13
delivery sale. 14
(6) Delivery seller permit. – A permit issued to a delivery seller pursuant to this 15
Chapter. 16
(7) Delivery service. – A person engaged in the commercial delivery of letters, 17
packages, or other containers. 18
(8) Distribute. – Sell, furnish, give, or provide hemp-derived consumable 19
products to the ultimate consumer. 20
(9) Hemp. – As defined in G.S. 90-87. 21
(10) Hemp-derived cannabinoid. – Any phytocannabinoid found in hemp, 22
including delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9 THC), tetrahydrocannabinolic 23
acid (THCA), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabinol 24
(CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabicyclol (CBL), 25
cannabivarin (CBV), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabidivarin 26
(CBDV), cannabicitran (CBT), delta-7 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-7 THC), 27
delta-8 tetrahydrocannibinol (delta-8 THC), or delta-10 tetrahydrocannibinol 28
(delta-10 THC). This term also includes any artificially produced cannabinoid 29
derived from hemp and contained in a hemp-derived consumable product. 30
(11) Hemp-derived consumable product. – A hemp product that is a finished good 31
intended for human ingestion or inhalation that contains a delta-9 THC 32
concentration of not more than three-tenths of one percent (0.3%) on a dry 33
weight basis, but may contain co