North Carolina residents favor legalizing marijuana for adult use and maintaining the legal status of hemp-derived THC products, according to polling data released Thursday by Elon University.
The survey found strong support for medical marijuana legalization and majority backing for recreational cannabis, marking a notable shift in public opinion in a state where lawmakers have repeatedly blocked reform efforts.
Respondents also indicated they want to preserve access to THC-infused hemp products like seltzers and gummies, which have proliferated in North Carolina retail stores despite regulatory uncertainty at the state level.
The Numbers
The Elon University poll captured sentiment across demographic groups, with medical marijuana legalization drawing the broadest support. Adult-use legalization, while not as universally backed, still commanded majority approval among North Carolina residents.
Support for keeping hemp-derived THC products legal for adults over 21 suggests consumers have embraced these products since they became widely available following the 2018 Farm Bill's legalization of hemp at the federal level.
North Carolina has become a significant market for hemp-derived cannabinoids, with products containing delta-8 THC, delta-9 THC, and other compounds appearing in gas stations, convenience stores, and dedicated hemp shops statewide. The state has not enacted specific regulations governing these products beyond federal hemp law.
Legislative Context
The polling data arrives as North Carolina lawmakers prepare for the 2025 legislative session. Medical marijuana bills have advanced in previous sessions but failed to become law, with the state remaining one of the few in the Southeast without a medical cannabis program.
Republican legislative leaders have expressed varying degrees of openness to medical marijuana, though adult-use legalization has faced steeper opposition. The party controls both chambers of the General Assembly and the governor's office following the 2024 elections.
Neighboring Virginia legalized adult-use cannabis in 2021, while South Carolina has debated medical marijuana legislation. The regional patchwork has created cross-border dynamics as North Carolina residents travel to access legal cannabis or turn to hemp-derived alternatives.
Industry Implications
The poll results could influence legislative priorities and give reform advocates data to cite when pressing for policy changes. Public opinion has historically lagged behind legislative action in many states, but strong polling numbers can shift political calculations.
Hemp industry stakeholders will likely point to the survey's findings on THC products as evidence that consumers want these items to remain available. Some state legislators have proposed restricting or banning certain hemp-derived cannabinoids, arguing they circumvent the intent of federal hemp law.
But efforts to limit hemp products face pushback from retailers who have built businesses around these goods and from consumers who rely on them for wellness purposes or as alternatives to alcohol.
What's Next
The North Carolina General Assembly convenes in January. Whether marijuana reform bills gain traction will depend on leadership priorities and committee assignments in both chambers.
Medical marijuana has a better chance of advancing than adult-use legalization based on past voting patterns, though neither is guaranteed to reach the governor's desk. Hemp product regulations could also surface as legislators grapple with the unregulated market that has emerged since 2018.
Polling alone does not dictate policy outcomes, particularly in a state where rural and conservative constituencies hold significant influence. Yet the data gives legalization proponents a talking point as they make their case to lawmakers.
This article is based on original reporting by www.marijuanamoment.net.
