Until the recent passage of SB 455 by the NC State legislature in the Summer of 2022, the regulatory landscape for Delta 8 in Wilmington, NC, and that of similar hemp-derived cannabinoids was a bit of a gray area. The passage of SB 455 changed all that, however, codifying into NC law the exact sentiments passed in the landmark 2018 US Farm Bill.
The Bill, officially known as the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, was a major piece of legislation that completely changed the American cannabis industry. One of the most significant changes made by the farm bill was the removal of hemp, a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant, from the controlled substances list. This move effectively legalized the cultivation, production, and sale of hemp and hemp-derived products, including hemp cannabinoids, on a federal level in the United States.
The farm bill defined hemp as a cannabis plant that contains not more than 0.3% delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound found in marijuana that is responsible for its psychoactive effects. This definition effectively separated hemp from marijuana, which typically contains much higher levels of THC.
One of the major benefits of the farm bill’s legalization of hemp and hemp-derived products was the potential for the development of new products and industries. Hemp has a number of industrial uses, including the production of clothing, paper, building materials, and fuel. In addition, hemp is a rich source of cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that has been shown to have a number of potential therapeutic benefits.
The Importance of Delta 8 to Wilmington, NC and the Region
North Carolina is an agriculturally-rich state and the changes that began with the Farm Bill and later with SB 455 allow the region’s farms and agriculture-related businesses another avenue for revenue. This has especially benefited smaller farms that have been feeling the pinch from Big Agriculture for years, and hemp has become a meaningful contributor to the financial security of many family-owned farms.
In addition to the potential economic benefits of the hemp industry, the legalization of hemp and hemp-derived products has also had significant social and cultural implications. For many years, the criminalization of hemp and marijuana had disproportionately affected certain communities, particularly those of color. The farm bill’s legalization of hemp has the potential to help reverse some of these negative consequences by providing new economic opportunities and by reducing the number of people who are arrested and imprisoned for possession or cultivation of hemp.
The “Purple” History of Laws for Delta 8 in Wilmington, NC
North Carolina was among the pioneers in recognizing the medical benefits of CBD and in legalizing the cultivation, production, and sale of hemp-based CBD products. In addition, Wilmington decriminalized the possession of cannabis years ago, with possession of up to a half ounce resulting only in a citation–not even a misdemeanor. And now we have SB 455 to further legitimize the majority of the cannabis industry. However, possession of larger amounts of marijuana-cannabis is still a felony offense. We’re still waiting on that full legalization! Until then, Delta Elev8 is a responsible producer and retailer of compliant cannabinoid products located in Wilmington for all your hemp needs!
