Hemp Inc (HEMP)

[worldisfullofDerps]

North Carolina Industrial Hemp Commission Resolution
Regarding the Reclassification of Smokable Hemp
as a Class Six Controlled Substance, Marijuana

Whereas, The North Carolina General Assembly, House Finance and Judiciary Committees voted on or
about July 17, 2019 to classify smokable hemp as a controlled substance, by including smokable
hemp in the definition of marijuana;
Whereas, the United States Congress with the President’s signature, enacted the 2018 Agricultural
Improvement Act (Farm Bill), which included provisions to remove hemp and its products from
being a Schedule 1 Drug under the Controlled Substances Act;
Whereas, The North Carolina Industrial Hemp Commission, previous North Carolina General Assemblies,
and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have endeavored to
comply with Federal Law in all respects;
Whereas, The United States Department of Justice has solicited and begun evaluation of field test kits to
determine their utility for identifying commonly found illegal marijuana for assistance in
establishing probable cause, and has indicated in correspondence that one or more appear to be
acceptable for their purposes;
Whereas, The State of North Carolina through its establishment of a Hemp Pilot Program in 2015, and the
formation of an appointed Industrial Hemp Commission, has established a licensing framework
for the cultivation and marketing of hemp and its products;
Whereas, The 2019 hemp crop in North Carolina was planted under a statutory and regulatory framework
in which all products of hemp legally cultivated in the program have never been previously
questioned to be illegal by Federal or State law enforcement;
Whereas, A shift in the law now by criminalizing smokable hemp will create market instability and leave
North Carolina farmers insufficient time to find new markets for their crops;
Whereas, The Industrial Hemp Commission believes that the amendments as made by the House Finance
and Judiciary Committees, if passed, would seriously threaten the ability of farmers obtaining crop
insurance and financial lending for hemp and limit the opportunities for growth of the industry;
Whereas, It is law enforcement’s duty to adapt to changes in the law at both the Federal and State level,
and;
Whereas, A ban on a portion of a crop which has been deemed by the Federal law to be legal in its
entirety would likely result in costly litigation against the State of North Carolina to defend its
actions by the General Assembly and the taxpayers of North Carolina, therefore;
Be it Resolved, The North Carolina Industrial Hemp Commission requests that the General Assembly enact
legislation that does not classify hemp or any legally produced hemp product as marijuana; and
further
North Carolina Industrial Hemp Commission Resolution Regarding the Reclassification of Smokable Hemp as a
Class Six Controlled Substance, Marijuana, continued (page 2 of 2)
N.C. Industrial Hemp Commission
Dr. Tom Melton, Chair Dr. Sandy Stewart, Vice-Chair
Guy Carpenter Chief Tony Godwin Billy McLawhorn
Sherriff Tim Manning Fen Rascoe Pat Short Dr. Guochen Yang
Be it Resolved, That the North Carolina Industrial Hemp Commission requests the General Assembly enact
legislation which:
1. Directs the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, in consultation with the United
State Department of Justice, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services, and the industry to develop and implement a field test kit which can reasonably
determine the presence of marijuana;
2. Gives the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Commission authority to seize
and test smokable hemp possessed or offered for sale and enforce charges relevant to
marijuana laws if tested above the legal tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) limit for hemp;
3. Requires licensure of all retailers selling smokable hemp by the ABC Commission;
4. Allows the ABC Commission to set fees around the licensure requirements and seizures
and authorize the expenditure of revenue generated from such fees to purchase
equipment for testing THC levels in smokable hemp products and for personnel necessary
to implement this program;
5. Establishes an 18-year old minimum age limit to purchase or possess smokable products;
and
6. Provides for enforcement of an open container law for smokable hemp in public places
and vehicles.
Be it Resolved, That the Industrial Hemp Commission will cause this resolution to be brought to the
attention of the North Carolina General Assembly and appropriate committees for consideration.
Resolved by the North Carolina Industrial Hemp Commission on July 23, 2019, by a vote of 5 to 2.

https://www.ncagr.gov/hemp/documents/2019-July23NCIHCResolutionRegardingtheReclassificationofSmokeableHempasaClassSixControlledSu.pdf