PotBill with 0.4 mg total THC cap still pending after July 30 committee referral
By Coastal Carolina News Staff Writer
Raleigh, NC — House Bill 328, titled Regulate Hemp‑Derived Consumables, remains in the House Rules, Calendar, and Operations Committee following a July 30 referral that paused movement on the measure.
The bill, which would establish a 0.4 milligram total THC per container limit for finished hemp‑derived consumable products, has not been scheduled for a vote in the North Carolina House.
The Senate approved the conference report on July 2 with bipartisan support. The House did not take up the report before adjourning and has not acted since returning. The bill’s current placement in House Rules indicates that leadership has not yet advanced it to the floor or another committee for further consideration.
HB 328 proposes a regulatory structure for hemp‑derived consumables, including licensing requirements, age‑21 restrictions, penalties, and definitions tied to total THC content. The 0.4 milligram cap would apply to the entire container rather than individual servings, a threshold that industry operators say would remove most intoxicating hemp products from the market. Retailers, manufacturers, and growers have described the limit as a de facto ban on the majority of THC‑based consumables currently sold in North Carolina.
The bill also aligns with a federal total‑THC standard scheduled to take effect November 12, 2026. That federal rule uses the same 0.4 milligram total THC per container ceiling for hemp‑derived consumables, prompting state lawmakers to frame HB 328 as an effort to bring North Carolina into compliance ahead of the federal change.
In recent days, hemp business owners and employees have gathered in Raleigh to express concern about the bill’s potential economic impact.
Participants have said the measure could lead to widespread closures across the state’s hemp retail and production sector. Supporters of the bill, including some law enforcement officials, have cited youth access and product safety as reasons for adopting stricter limits.
The bill’s outcome would affect local retailers, vape shops, breweries carrying THC beverages, and regional hemp growers who rely on current product formulations. Many operators say they are waiting for clarity on whether the House will take up the conference report during the current session.
As of August 4, HB 328 remains in the House Rules Committee with no announced schedule for further action. Coastal Carolina News will continue monitoring developments and provide updates as lawmakers determine whether the bill will advance.
Sources: NC General Assembly, House Bill 328 legislative history
Federal Register, USDA Final Rule on Hemp‑Derived Consumables (effective Nov. 12, 2026)
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