North Carolina House Bill 328 | What It Means for Franny's Farmacy & Hemp

🌿 North Carolina House Bill 328: What It Means for Hemp, Small Businesses & Our Community

A Defining Moment for Hemp in North Carolina

The hemp industry in North Carolina has reached another critical crossroads.

House Bill 328 (HB 328), recently advanced by North Carolina lawmakers, proposes significant changes to how hemp-derived products are regulated throughout the state. As reported by WLOS News 13, the legislation would establish a 0.4 mg THC limit in finished hemp products, require purchasers to be 21 years of age or older, and introduce new civil and criminal penalties for businesses that do not comply.

At Franny’s Farmacy, we believe it’s important to keep our customers informed—not with fear, but with facts.

As a company founded by one of North Carolina’s earliest hemp pioneers, we’ve spent years advocating for responsible regulation that protects consumers while preserving the future of local agriculture and small businesses.

This conversation is about much more than products on a shelf.

It’s about farmers.

It’s about jobs.

It’s about responsible businesses.

And it’s about ensuring that consumers continue to have access to safe, transparent hemp products.

What’s Happening?

House Bill 328 proposes several significant changes to North Carolina’s hemp marketplace, including:

  • A 0.4 mg THC cap in finished hemp products.
  • A minimum purchase age of 21 for hemp-derived THC products.
  • New civil and criminal penalties for businesses that fail to comply.
  • Expanded oversight of hemp-derived cannabinoid products sold throughout the state.

For many consumers, these may sound like simple regulatory changes.

For thousands of businesses across North Carolina, however, the impact could be substantial.

Why Does HB 328 Matter?

At Franny’s Farmacy, we’ve always supported common-sense consumer protections.

We believe products should be:

  • Clearly labeled.
  • Third-party tested.
  • Packaged responsibly.
  • Sold to adults.
  • Manufactured transparently.

Those aren’t new ideas for us—they’ve been part of our philosophy since the beginning.

What concerns many within the hemp industry is the proposed THC limit itself.

A limit of 0.4 mg THC per finished product would be so restrictive that many federally compliant hemp products currently sold throughout North Carolina could disappear from shelves.

According to research cited by the Coalition for a Healthy and Balanced Hemp Industry (CBHD), the legislation could impact:

  • More than 16,000 North Carolina jobs
  • Over 2,100 hemp businesses
  • Approximately $4.4 billion in economic activity

These numbers represent real farms, manufacturers, retailers, and families who have invested years into building a responsible hemp industry.

Regulation vs. Prohibition

There is an important distinction that often gets lost in these conversations.

Franny’s Farmacy supports regulation.

We support:

  • Age restrictions.
  • Product transparency.
  • Child-resistant packaging.
  • Independent laboratory testing.
  • Responsible manufacturing standards.
  • Consumer education.

These are protections that build trust and create a safer marketplace.

What we do not support is legislation that unintentionally eliminates compliant businesses while limiting consumer access to regulated products.

As our founder, Franny Tacy, has consistently advocated, the goal should be smart regulation—not prohibition.

Responsible businesses should have the opportunity to operate within clear, science-informed rules that protect consumers while allowing North Carolina’s hemp industry to continue growing.

Franny Tacy Continues to Advocate for North Carolina

For Franny Tacy, this isn’t simply another legislative debate.

It’s deeply personal.

As North Carolina’s first legal female hemp farmer, Franny has spent years helping shape the state’s hemp industry through education, advocacy, and collaboration.

Recently, Franny spoke with WLOS News 13 about House Bill 328, emphasizing that while stronger consumer protections are important, the legislation should also recognize the realities facing small businesses, farmers, and manufacturers.

Throughout her career, Franny has remained committed to working with lawmakers, regulators, and industry leaders to develop practical solutions that balance public safety with agricultural opportunity.

Her message has remained consistent:

Protect consumers.

Support farmers.

Strengthen responsible businesses.

Build sensible regulations.

What Will Franny’s Farmacy Do?

No matter how legislation evolves, one thing will remain unchanged:

Our commitment to our customers.

We will continue to:

  • Manufacture and sell products that comply with applicable laws.
  • Invest in third-party testing and transparency.
  • Monitor legislative developments closely.
  • Keep our customers informed every step of the way.
  • Advocate for policies that support both public safety and North Carolina’s agricultural economy.

We have always believed that trust is earned through transparency, and that commitment will continue regardless of what the future holds.

How You Can Help

If you believe North Carolina should pursue thoughtful hemp regulation rather than eliminating an industry that supports thousands of jobs, your voice matters.

You can help by:

  • Contacting your elected representatives.
  • Sharing your personal experiences with hemp wellness.
  • Supporting local hemp businesses.
  • Staying informed about proposed legislation.

Constructive conversations between consumers, businesses, and policymakers are essential to building effective laws that protect everyone involved.

The Future of Hemp Is Worth Fighting For

North Carolina has become a national leader in hemp because of the people willing to take risks.

Farmers.

Researchers.

Entrepreneurs.

Manufacturers.

Small business owners.

Consumers.

The decisions made today will shape the future of hemp for years to come.

At Franny’s Farmacy, we’ll continue doing what we’ve always done:

Growing.

Educating.

Advocating.

Serving our community.

And working toward a future where responsible regulation protects consumers while allowing local businesses and farmers to thrive.

Stay Informed

As House Bill 328 continues to move through the legislative process, we’ll continue sharing updates through our website, email newsletter, and social media channels.

Thank you for standing with local businesses.

Thank you for supporting North Carolina agriculture.

And thank you for being part of the Franny’s Farmacy community.

Together, we can continue advocating for a future built on transparency, education, and smart hemp policy.

Stay Green & Glowing,

Franny Tacy & The Franny’s Farmacy Team 💚🌿

Sources

  • WLOS News 13. North Carolina lawmakers weigh House Bill 328 to cap hemp edible THC content and regulate hemp-derived products.https://wlos.com/news/local/north-carolina-lawmakers-weigh-house-bill-328-cap-hemp-edibles-thc-tetrahydrocannabinol-content-point-4-milligrams-container-21-years-older-sales-wnc-asheville