Triad cannabis sellers react to Gov. Stein’s new cannabis advisory council

June 4, 2025

JUST A LITTLE BIT. DEVONTE DAVE THANK YOU. NEW TONIGHT CANNABIS SELLERS ARE REACTING TO THE NEW TASK FORCE BEING CREATED BY GOVERNOR JOSH STEIN. THE COUNCIL IS MADE UP OF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND LAWMAKERS IN BOTH PARTIES, ALONGSIDE HEALTH LEADERS WILL INVESTIGATE HOW THE STATE SHOULD SELL AND REGULATE CANNABIS PRODUCTS. OUR KELLY KENDALL SPOKE TO THOSE SELLERS ABOUT THE ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY. SHE JOINS US NOW IN STUDIO. AND KELLY, FIRST OFF, WHAT IS THE GOVERNOR’S GOAL FOR THIS NEW COUNCIL. DEVONTE THE COUNCIL WILL LOOK INTO HOW POLICIES COULD PROTECT MINORS FROM THC PRODUCTS WHILE ALSO ALLOWING THEIR SALE TO ADULTS. I SPOKE WITH CANNABIS SHOP OWNERS IN DOWNTOWN WINSTON-SALEM WHO SAY THEY’RE IN FAVOR OF THE STATE CONSIDERING REGULATIONS. MY INITIAL REACTION IS THAT WE ARE IS STARTING TO MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THAT DIRECTION IS TOWARD A POLICY TO REGULATE THE SALE OF CANNABIS PRODUCTS IN NORTH CAROLINA. IN ANNOUNCING A NEW CANNABIS ADVISORY COUNCIL, GOVERNOR JOSH STEIN CALLED THE CURRENT MARKET A WILD WEST, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AS THESE VAPE SHOPS ARE EVERYWHERE BECAUSE THERE ARE STORY AFTER STORY OF TEENAGERS JUST LIKE YOU DESCRIBED, GETTING THERE, BUYING THESE PRODUCTS, CONSUMING THESE PRODUCTS, AND HAVING TERRIBLE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSES. WE MAKE SURE THAT WE ID EVERYONE 21 AND UP. THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS A KID EATING A WHOLE BAG OF GUMMIES. WE SPOKE WITH THE OWNERS OF SALEM ORGANIC SUPPLY AND CELESTIAL WELLNESS, TWO SHOPS SELLING CANNABIS PRODUCTS █IN DOWNTOWN WINSTON-SALEM. BOTH SAY THEY ALREADY ENGAGE IN SOME OF THE PRACTICES THAT STEIN WANTS TO SEE BECOME POLICY, SUCH AS AGE MINIMUMS AND CLEAR PACKAGING. ALL OF OUR GUMMIES AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS PACKAGED WITH A GOOD LABEL STATING THE MILLIGRAM, SAYING DOSAGE. EVERYTHING YOU SEE HERE ON THIS TABLE IS THIRD PARTY TESTED THROUGH A DEA REGISTERED LAB. OUR BIGGEST COMPETITION IS BAD ACTORS IN THE INDUSTRY. A LOT OF PEOPLE SEE CANNABIS AND THEY THINK QUICK, FAST MONEY. AND WITH THAT COMES CUTTING CORNERS. AND WE SEE A LOT OF THAT. CELESTIL WELLNESS DIRECTOR TYLER WHITE SAYS IF STATE LEADERS COME UP WITH REGULATIONS SIMILAR TO OTHER STATES, IT COULD BE BIG FOR THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY. I THINK NORTH CAROLINA HAS PROBABLY THE BEST POSITIONING OUT OF ALL THE STATES IN THE EAST COAST TO BE A CANNABIS POWERHOUSE. I THINK THAT WE COULD SET A PROGRAM HERE IN PLACE IN NORTH CAROLINA. THAT COULD BE A FOUNDATIONAL WORK FRAMEWORK FOR FEDERAL LEGALIZATION IN THE FUTURE. NOW, TO BE CLEAR, SELLING MARIJUANA IS NOT CURRENTLY LEGAL IN NORTH CAROLINA, BUT UNDER THE FEDERAL FARM BILL PASSED IN 2018, CERTAIN HEMP PRODUCTS ARE ALLOWED TO BE SOLD. THE SHOPS I SPOKE WITH SAY THEY HOPE STATE LEADERS WILL WORK WITH CANNABIS COMPANIES ON REGULATING THOSE PRODUCTS AND POTENTIALLY LEGALIZING MARIJUANA IN THE FUTURE. IN

Triad cannabis sellers react to Gov. Stein’s new cannabis advisory council

Gov. Josh Stein is forming a new council to look into regulating THC and study pot legalization in NC. Local cannabis sellers say they’re in favor of increased regulation.

Cannabis sellers are reacting to a new task force created by Gov. Josh Stein.Stein signed an executive order on Tuesday to create an advisory council comprising law enforcement officials, lawmakers from both parties and health experts. They are tasked with investigating how the state should sell cannabis products.Selling marijuana is not currently legal in North Carolina. However, under the 2018 federal Farm Bill, certain hemp products are permitted for sale, which is why stores across the state currently sell products with intoxicating effects.One of Stein’s goals for the council is to look at policies that could protect minors from THC products while allowing their sale to adults. In announcing a new cannabis advisory council, Governor Josh Stein called the current market a “wild west.”In an interview with NBC affiliate WRAL, Stein said he is concerned that North Carolina’s lack of regulation has made it easy for minors to get cannabis products at tobacco and vape shops and has heard of them “consuming these products and having terrible physical and psychological responses.”Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking hereAs the advisory council does its work, Stein is calling on the General Assembly to pass legislation that would require customers at least 21 years of age to present a photo I.D. to purchase cannabis products. He is also calling for legislation that requires sellers to package their products with clear dosage and ingredient information. WXII spoke with the owners of Salem Organic Supply and Celestial Wellness, two shops selling cannabis products in downtown Winston-Salem. Both say they already engage in some of the practices that Stein wants to see become policy, such as age minimums and clear packaging.“We’re already following guidelines for all of the other legal states, from flower testing for pesticides, where everything comes from, accountability and tracing so that we know all of our products,” Chris Eastwood with Salem Organic Supply said. “All of our gummies and everything else is packaged with a good label stating the milligram, saying dosage, keep it out kids’ hands, stuff like that.” Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.Under the current regulatory system, sellers do not have to engage in those practices, but Celestial Wellness executive director Tylere White says it’s important if the cannabis industry is going to grow in North Carolina. “If we’re ever going to be taken seriously, if we’re ever going to get the banking we need, the insurance coverage we need, the things that we want to be a legitimate industry, that we have to show that we are willing to comply and do things the right way,” he said. White says there are sellers who are taking advantage of North Carolina’s lack of regulation.”Our biggest competition is bad actors in the industry,” he said. “A lot of people see cannabis and they think quick, fast money, and with that comes cutting corners, and we see a lot of that.”Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscastsShop owners say they hope that state leaders will work closely with those in the cannabis industry to develop any regulations they plan to implement.White says that if state leaders develop regulations similar to those in other states, North Carolina’s economy could benefit. It may also have broader implications for the country.”I think North Carolina has probably the best positioning out of all the states on the East Coast to be a cannabis powerhouse,” he said. “I think that we could set a program here in place in North Carolina that could be a foundational framework for federal legalization in the future.”NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love | Trending Stories

Cannabis sellers are reacting to a new task force created by Gov. Josh Stein.

Stein signed an executive order on Tuesday to create an advisory council comprising law enforcement officials, lawmakers from both parties and health experts. They are tasked with investigating how the state should sell cannabis products.

Selling marijuana is not currently legal in North Carolina. However, under the 2018 federal Farm Bill, certain hemp products are permitted for sale, which is why stores across the state currently sell products with intoxicating effects.

One of Stein’s goals for the council is to look at policies that could protect minors from THC products while allowing their sale to adults. In announcing a new cannabis advisory council, Governor Josh Stein called the current market a “wild west.”

In an interview with NBC affiliate WRAL, Stein said he is concerned that North Carolina’s lack of regulation has made it easy for minors to get cannabis products at tobacco and vape shops and has heard of them “consuming these products and having terrible physical and psychological responses.”

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here

As the advisory council does its work, Stein is calling on the General Assembly to pass legislation that would require customers at least 21 years of age to present a photo I.D. to purchase cannabis products. He is also calling for legislation that requires sellers to package their products with clear dosage and ingredient information.

WXII spoke with the owners of Salem Organic Supply and Celestial Wellness, two shops selling cannabis products in downtown Winston-Salem. Both say they already engage in some of the practices that Stein wants to see become policy, such as age minimums and clear packaging.

“We’re already following guidelines for all of the other legal states, from flower testing for pesticides, where everything comes from, accountability and tracing so that we know all of our products,” Chris Eastwood with Salem Organic Supply said. “All of our gummies and everything else is packaged with a good label stating the milligram, saying dosage, keep it out kids’ hands, stuff like that.”

Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.

Under the current regulatory system, sellers do not have to engage in those practices, but Celestial Wellness executive director Tylere White says it’s important if the cannabis industry is going to grow in North Carolina.

“If we’re ever going to be taken seriously, if we’re ever going to get the banking we need, the insurance coverage we need, the things that we want to be a legitimate industry, that we have to show that we are willing to comply and do things the right way,” he said.

White says there are sellers who are taking advantage of North Carolina’s lack of regulation.

“Our biggest competition is bad actors in the industry,” he said. “A lot of people see cannabis and they think quick, fast money, and with that comes cutting corners, and we see a lot of that.”

Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscasts

Shop owners say they hope that state leaders will work closely with those in the cannabis industry to develop any regulations they plan to implement.

White says that if state leaders develop regulations similar to those in other states, North Carolina’s economy could benefit. It may also have broader implications for the country.

“I think North Carolina has probably the best positioning out of all the states on the East Coast to be a cannabis powerhouse,” he said. “I think that we could set a program here in place in North Carolina that could be a foundational framework for federal legalization in the future.”

NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |

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