The Future of Hemp Is at a Crossroads

For nearly a decade, Franny’s Farmacy has worked to build something bigger than a cannabis company.

We’ve built farms.

We’ve built relationships.

We’ve built a community rooted in education, transparency, and plant-based wellness.

Most importantly, we’ve built trust.

That’s why we believe it’s important to keep you informed—not only about our products, but about the legislation that could dramatically affect the future of hemp across North Carolina and the entire country.

A recent article published by the Asheville Citizen Times highlighted what many in our industry have been preparing for: a proposed federal hemp ban that could fundamentally change the future of hemp-derived products beginning in late 2026.

While there are still many unknowns, one thing is certain:

We are not giving up.

What Is Happening?

In 2018, the Farm Bill federally legalized hemp, opening the door for farmers, researchers, manufacturers, and small businesses across the country.

That legislation helped create an entirely new agricultural economy.

Farmers planted hemp.

Researchers studied cannabinoids.

Small businesses invested millions of dollars into growing responsible companies.

Consumers finally gained access to plant-based wellness products they had been asking for.

Now, new federal legislation passed in late 2025 is scheduled to take effect in November 2026. If implemented as written, many hemp-derived cannabinoid products—including intoxicating hemp products—would once again become federally controlled substances. Industry experts quoted in the Citizen Times warn that the proposal could affect not only THCa products but the broader hemp processing industry as well.

This Isn’t Just About THCa Flower

Many people hear “hemp ban” and assume it only affects smokable flower.

The reality is much bigger.

Hemp supports an entire ecosystem of products, including:

• CBD tinctures
• CBD gummies
• topicals
• wellness products
• pet products
• botanical wellness
• farming operations
• processing facilities
• research programs

As Asheville cannabis attorney Rod Kight explained in the article, processing hemp into products like CBD can temporarily concentrate THC during manufacturing, raising concerns about how even non-intoxicating products could be affected under the proposed legislation.

For many consumers who rely on hemp-derived CBD as part of their daily wellness routine, that uncertainty is understandably concerning.

A North Carolina Industry Built From the Ground Up

North Carolina didn’t become one of the country’s leading hemp states overnight.

Thousands of farmers took risks.

Researchers invested years of work.

Entrepreneurs built businesses from scratch.

According to the Citizen Times, North Carolina’s hemp economy now supports an estimated $4–5 billion market and approximately 16,000 jobs.

Behind every number is a real person.

A family.

A farm.

A local business.

A customer.

Franny’s Journey Started Long Before Hemp Was Popular

Long before hemp became headlines…

Before dispensaries appeared on every corner…

Before cannabinoids became household conversations…

Franny believed in this plant.

She became North Carolina’s first legal female hemp farmer not because it was easy—but because it was necessary.

She believed farmers deserved opportunity.

Patients deserved access.

Consumers deserved transparency.

That belief hasn’t changed.

As Franny shared with the Citizen Times:

“I’ve spent years helping build North Carolina’s hemp industry… We will work alongside legislators, regulators and lobbyists to create sensible pathways that protect consumers while preserving agricultural opportunity and economic growth.”

That commitment remains exactly the same today.

Why Regulation Makes More Sense Than Prohibition

At Franny’s Farmacy, we’ve never advocated for an unregulated marketplace.

Quite the opposite.

We’ve consistently supported:

✔ Age restrictions

✔ Product testing

✔ Child-resistant packaging

✔ Accurate labeling

✔ Responsible manufacturing

✔ Consumer education

We believe thoughtful regulation protects everyone.

Farmers.

Businesses.

Consumers.

Children.

Public health.

A regulated marketplace encourages transparency.

A prohibited marketplace often drives demand underground.

Franny noted in the Citizen Times that removing legal access to hemp products could fuel an “intensely thriving black market” while limiting access for consumers who rely on products like CBD.

What This Means for Franny’s Farmacy

Many of you have asked us:

“Will Franny’s Farmacy still be here?”

Our answer is simple:

Yes.

We’ve weathered uncertainty before.

We’ve adapted.

We’ve advocated.

We’ve continued serving our community.

And we’ll continue doing exactly that.

We are actively working with legislators, attorneys, industry organizations, and fellow business owners to advocate for policies that support responsible regulation while protecting farmers, consumers, and small businesses.

We’re also continuing to invest in compliance, product quality, and education because we believe those investments matter regardless of how laws evolve.

What This Means for You

If you’re a Franny’s Farmacy customer, know this:

We will continue communicating openly as new information becomes available.

We won’t speculate.

We won’t create unnecessary fear.

We’ll provide facts.

We’ll explain changes clearly.

And we’ll continue doing everything we can to ensure you have access to safe, transparent, high-quality wellness products.

Hope Is Still Alive

While the proposed federal changes present real challenges, there are also ongoing conversations about alternative legislative approaches that would regulate hemp rather than prohibit it entirely. Policymakers in North Carolina continue to study frameworks that emphasize testing, labeling, age restrictions, and total THC content.

That’s the future we believe in.

A future where consumers are protected.

Farmers are supported.

Businesses can operate responsibly.

And cannabis policy reflects science rather than confusion.

More Than a Business

Franny’s Farmacy has always been about more than products.

We’re farmers.

We’re educators.

We’re advocates.

We’re your neighbors.

Our mission has always been to connect people with plant-based wellness while honoring the agricultural roots that make it all possible.

No legislation can change that.

Standing Together

The hemp industry has overcome uncertainty before.

And we’ll continue doing what we’ve always done:

Growing.

Educating.

Advocating.

Farming.

And standing beside the customers who have stood beside us.

Thank you for trusting Franny’s Farmacy.

Thank you for supporting local agriculture.

Thank you for believing in the future of hemp.

Together, we’ll continue fighting for sensible policies, responsible regulation, and a future where North Carolina’s farmers, small businesses, and consumers can continue to thrive.

Because this movement has always been about more than a plant.

It’s about people.

And that’s worth fighting for.

Stay Green & Glowing,

The Franny’s Farmacy Team 💚