Vote against HB 328

House bill 328 will eviscerate North Carolina's hemp industry which supports an estimated 16,000+ jobs and generates roughly $702.5 million in annual wages. The industry drives approximately $3.2 billion in business revenue, with a total statewide economic impact estimated at $4.4 billion. Hemp retail alone generates an estimated $87.8 million in annual state sales tax revenue. The number of hemp retail storefronts across NC has more than doubled in just a few years, revitalizing main streets in both rural and urban communities. Farmers, cultivators, processors, manufacturers, testing labs, distributors, and retailers all depend on this supply chain — a ban doesn't just close dispensary doors, it collapses an entire agricultural and manufacturing ecosystem. A ban won't make North Carolina safer — it will make it less safe.Demand doesn't disappear when products are banned; it moves. Consumers will simply drive across the border to Virginia and South Carolina, sending our tax revenue and jobs to competing states, or turn to unregulated, untested products sold in the underground market — the exact opposite of consumer safety. I am writing to urge you to urge instead of prohibition, strongly advocate for smart, enforceable regulation that upholds safety while preserving access. Smart standards that could serve as a model for statewide policy include: Age Restrictions: Limiting psychoactive hemp-derived products to individuals 21+ to prevent youth access. Transparent Labeling & QR Codes: Every product labeled with scannable QR codes linking to accredited third-party lab-tested COAs. Triple-Testing Protocols: DEA-certified lab testing for potency, contaminants, and Farm Bill compliance. Clear Dosing & Safety Warnings: Including child-resistant packaging where appropriate. Responsible Marketing: No youth-oriented imagery, flavors, or promotion. I firmly believe thoughtful regulation — not prohibition — is the safest, most economically responsible path forward. North Carolina has a chance to lead the nation with a model that protects public health while supporting our farmers, small businesses, and the residents who rely on hemp-derived products for their daily quality of life. Prohibition will only drive people to purchase out of the state or underground in a dangerous black market where sellers hope to get consumers hooked on even more addictive substances.