Big Cannabis Decision Could Be Up For Voters In This Southern State This Year As Its Unregulated Market Cries For Order

A new bill that seeks to allow voters in North Carolina to decide on marijuana policy this fall was filed on Monday by a trio of Democratic policymakers.

Senate Bill 1072 from state Senators Kandie Smith, Caleb Theodros, and Paul Lowe would place two separate marijuana-related amendments before voters in the November 3, 2026, statewide general election, reported Marijuana Herald.

While one amendment seeks to make possession of limited amounts for personal use not a criminal offense for adults, the other amendment would protect possession for patients with qualifying conditions.

That said, the policy change doesn’t mean legalization of marijuana sales, nor the setting up of a dispensary system within the regulated market, but rather addresses possession protections only.

In order to pass, both measures must obtain the approval of the majority of North Carolina voters.

If approved, the state legislature would have to pass laws that define possession limits and qualifying conditions, alongside other regulatory details.

North Carolina still doesn’t have a medical or recreational program for marijuana, defined as cannabis containing more than 0.3% delta-9 THC, which remains illegal under state law.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) legalized both medical and recreational cannabis on its sovereign tribal lands in 2024. While sales at the state’s first medical dispensary kicked off at the time, these products remain illegal to take outside the tribal boundaries.

Governor Josh Stein recently thanked the North Carolina Advisory Council on Cannabis for approving its interim report. The group of experts has been developing a solution to the unregulated sale of cannabis, focused on public health and safety, at Gov. Stein’s request.

“This report provides the General Assembly with guidance and makes clear that a well-regulated market, including both oversight and enforcement authority, is a safer market for our state,” Stein said in a statement last month. “Our state’s unregulated cannabis market today is the Wild West and is crying for order. Let’s get this right. Let’s protect our kids and create a safe, legal, and well-regulated market for adults.”