S313 - Industrial Hemp (SL 2015-299)

Overview: S.L. 2015-299: (i) creates the North Carolina Industrial Hemp Commission to establish and oversee a program to license growers to cultivate industrial hemp for commercial purposes and to promote the use of industrial hemp products; (ii) requires the Commission to obtain funding from non-State sources of $200,000 before meeting or undertaking any of its statutory powers or duties; and (iii) decriminalizes the production and use of industrial hemp upon the completion of permanent rulemaking by the Board of Agriculture of rulemaking proposals made by the Commission pertaining to supervision of the planting, cultivation, harvesting, and use of industrial hemp under license issued by the Commission.

The decriminalization of industrial hemp cultivation, sale, and possession becomes effective only after permanent rules governing the cultivation, production, and sale are adopted by the Board of Agriculture. The remainder of this act became effective October 31, 2015.