News

🌿 The End of the Wild West? North Carolina’s Hemp Industry Faces a Reckoning

Published by Galaxy Groves | March 2025

North Carolina’s hemp scene has long been described as the “Wild West.” Dispensaries, bars—even pizza joints—have freely sold intoxicating hemp-derived products with little to no oversight. But that may soon change in a big way.

State Senators Todd Johnson, Danny Britt, and Michael Lazzara have introduced a 16-page bill that could radically reshape the state's booming hemp industry. While some see it as a necessary course correction, others worry it's a crackdown that could shut down small businesses and home-based manufacturers for good.

⚖️ What’s in the Bill?

The proposed legislation adds serious structure—and serious restrictions—to a previously loose regulatory environment. Here's what the bill proposes:

• 🚫 Age Restriction: No hemp-derived consumables for anyone under 21.

• 🏫 Location Limits: Bans products from being sold or possessed on school grounds.

• 🧪 Mandatory Testing: Products must be tested for heavy metals, pesticides, and toxins.

• 🏷️ Labeling Requirements: Clear marketing, dosage, and ingredient info must be included.

• 🏠 Ban on Home-Based Manufacturing: Goodbye, backyard brands.

• 🧾 Licensing System: Manufacturers, distributors, and sellers will need state-issued licenses.

• ⚖️ Dosage Caps: Gummies can’t contain more than 75mg of delta-7, delta-8, delta-9, or delta-10 per serving; liquids are capped at 25mg per serving.

🔍 Why Now?

North Carolina remains one of the few states where marijuana (medical or recreational) is still illegal. Yet, it's been one of the most lenient on hemp-derived intoxicants—delta-8, THC-A, THC-O, and more. This legal gray zone has allowed a flood of potent products into everyday retail spots, often without age checks or safety testing.

Industry advocates and public health experts have both raised concerns: one about the safety and consistency of these products, and the other about children accessing them easily.

🏭 Industry Reaction: Mixed Feelings

While some businesses welcome clearer rules and cleaner competition, others fear they'll be priced out of the market.

Rep. John Bell—who also happens to run Asterra Labs, a pharmaceutical-grade hemp company—has voiced support for standards, even if it means added costs for his own operation. But he acknowledges the bill could force many backyard or small-batch producers out entirely.

“There aren’t many companies in NC doing what we do,” Bell told WUNC, “but this law isn’t a slam dunk for us either. The new fees and packaging requirements would hit us too.”

🌿 A Hemp Giant at a Crossroads

North Carolina has a long history with hemp and has built a reputation as one of the most hemp-friendly states in the country. That environment gave rise to some of the most innovative and respected hemp companies in the world.

But with this legislation, the state seems ready to trade its “Wild West” energy for something more structured—and, depending on your view, more sustainable or more stifling.

🌱 Galaxy Groves’ Take

At Galaxy Groves, we believe in safe, responsible, and accessible hemp—but we also know the heart of this industry is its independent growers, small brands, and innovators. Striking a balance between regulation and opportunity is critical. We hope North Carolina gets it right.

Because what happens in one “hemp capital” could echo through the entire country.

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Connecticut’s Hemp Crisis: One Law, One Paragraph, One Industry at Risk

Published by Galaxy Groves | March 25, 2025

What started as a hopeful chapter for Connecticut farmers is now reading like a cautionary tale. A single paragraph in a recent state law is threatening to dismantle the hemp industry that blossomed after the 2018 Farm Bill—and the ripple effects are being felt far and wide.

Among the pioneers of this green movement is Becky Goetsch, a Yale-trained microbiologist turned hemp farmer. At her Running Brook Farm, she saw hemp as both a personal remedy and a professional mission. “CBD came into my life to aid in my recovery,” she shared in a 2021 interview. After weaning off pharmaceuticals with the help of hemp, she began growing it, creating custom tinctures—like CBD with valerian root to help with sleep—and eventually became the first president of the Connecticut Hemp Industry Association (CHIA).

Goetsch, like many others, responded to the federal Farm Bill’s promise of opportunity. Farmers obtained licenses, cultivated acres of hemp, and built businesses around wellness products. But today, their efforts are being undermined—not by nature or market demand, but by legislation.

The Law That Changed Everything

A new state law now restricts the processing and sale of non-psychoactive compounds like CBD to only those holding specific licenses under Connecticut’s adult-use cannabis program. That means independent hemp farmers and processors can no longer legally sell their own CBD products—unless they align with the tightly regulated recreational marijuana framework.

This one regulatory change has effectively shut out the very pioneers who built Connecticut’s hemp market. The intention may have been to streamline safety and quality, but the execution has sidelined small-scale growers, forcing many to shutter operations or operate in legal limbo.

A Case Study in Unintended Consequences

Farmers like Mike Goodenough of SweetHeal CBD—who has invested in hemp processing labs and spent years building a brand rooted in trust and wellness—are now stuck. With product pipelines halted and distribution channels restricted, the promise of hemp is withering.

It’s a frustrating irony: while Connecticut was once seen as a model for responsible hemp regulation, it’s now at risk of becoming a warning story.

Galaxy Groves' Take

At Galaxy Groves, we believe in plant-powered progress—and that includes standing up for the farmers and innovators who helped pioneer the hemp wellness movement. This moment in Connecticut shows how quickly a thriving green economy can be undermined by policy disconnected from on-the-ground reality.

Hemp isn’t just about products—it’s about people. It’s about health, sustainability, and giving farmers a chance to grow something meaningful. And for many, like Goetsch, it’s deeply personal.

We hope lawmakers reconsider, and realign regulation with the spirit of the Farm Bill—access, innovation, and healing.

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New York’s Cannabis Lounges: Legalized But Nowhere to Lounge

Published by Galaxy Groves | March 25, 2025

Four years after New York State legalized cannabis and green-lit the idea of on-site consumption lounges, operators are still waiting for the go-ahead to open their doors—not for business, but for experience.

Under the 2021 Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), licensed dispensaries were supposed to be able to open “consumption sites”—think cigar bar vibes, but for cannabis. A space to unwind, socialize, and indulge legally. But in 2025, not a single license has been issued for these lounges.

A Green Light Without the Go

The delay has left dispensary owners frustrated, especially those who have already invested in lounge-ready spaces. Take Arish Halani, CEO of Herbwell Cannabis, which just secured a premium five-story space at 519 Madison Avenue. He’s designed a rooftop lounge that could rival Manhattan's swankiest cocktail bars—but for now, it remains a dream deferred.

“There is no regulatory framework to enact the law,” Halani told The Post. “We’d love to be the first lounge to open.”

And he’s not alone. Dispensaries across the city, like The Cannabis Place in Queens, have already carved out VIP lounge areas, waiting for the regulatory stars to align. “It’s disappointing,” said Executive Director Osbert Orduna. “The lounges would add revenue to the business. It’s a missed opportunity.”

What’s the Hold-Up?

The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) says it’s working on it—but with a long to-do list. According to OCM rep Taylor Randi Lee, the focus remains on establishing a “stable and sustainable supply chain” via cultivation, processing, and retail.

Translation? Consumption lounges are on the back burner.

To complicate things, there's internal resistance. Health officials reportedly worry that lounges could sidestep the Clean Indoor Air Act, which bans smoking in workplaces, bars, and restaurants—another wrinkle for an already overregulated industry.

Meanwhile, the Black Market Booms

While legal operators invest in sleek storefronts and pay Midtown-level rent, the illegal market is thriving. Despite Gov. Kathy Hochul's crackdown, many unlicensed shops still operate openly. Legal operators are feeling squeezed from both ends: the lack of lounge regulations and the continued presence of black-market competition.

So far, 333 licensed dispensaries have opened across the state, generating over $1 billion in sales. But until on-site consumption becomes a reality, a critical piece of the cannabis culture puzzle remains missing.

Galaxy Groves’ Take

At Galaxy Groves, we believe cannabis is more than a product—it’s a lifestyle and a community. Consumption lounges are essential to shaping that culture. They're places where education, connection, and safe use can flourish.

New York paved the way with forward-thinking legislation, but the journey isn’t over. It’s time for regulators to catch up with the law—and the people.

Let’s turn those lounge lights on.

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Georgia Lawmakers Move to Restrict Hemp Products – What It Means for the Industry

Published by Galaxy Groves | March 2025

The hemp industry in Georgia is facing a major shake-up. The Georgia State Senate has passed two new bills that could significantly impact hemp businesses, particularly those selling THC-infused beverages and products containing intoxicating hemp compounds like Delta-8 THC. These proposed regulations have sparked debate between lawmakers, business owners, and consumers.

At Galaxy Groves, we are committed to keeping our community informed about the ever-changing hemp landscape. Let’s break down what these new bills mean for the industry and how they could impact you.

What’s Changing?

The Georgia Senate has approved two bills that, if passed in the House, will bring major changes to the state’s hemp industry:

1. Ban on THC-Infused Drinks – This bill would completely outlaw the sale of beverages containing THC, regardless of the concentration.
2. Stricter Limits on Intoxicating Hemp Products – The second bill places a 0.3% cap on Delta-8 THC and other intoxicating hemp compounds, which could lead to many popular products disappearing from store shelves.

Both bills are awaiting approval from the Georgia House before they can be signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp.

Why Are These Changes Happening?

State lawmakers argue that these regulations are necessary to protect consumers, particularly children, from unintended intoxication.

• Sen. Bill Cowsert (R-46th), the sponsor of the THC drink ban, compared hemp products to "loaded guns," saying they need to be kept out of reach of minors.
• Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (R-32nd), who co-sponsored the bill limiting intoxicating hemp ingredients, emphasized that the goal is consumer protection, not an outright ban.

However, those in the industry see things differently.

How This Impacts the Hemp Industry

For hemp business owners and advocates, these restrictions feel like an unnecessary crackdown on a thriving, legal industry.

• Attorney Tom Church, who represents smoke and vape shop owners, argues that lawmakers are unfairly targeting hemp products by grouping them with illegal marijuana.
• Business owners worry that limiting Delta-8 THC and banning THC-infused drinks could force many shops to close, cutting off a major revenue stream.

At Galaxy Groves, we believe in responsible hemp use and proper regulation, but we also recognize the importance of fair policies that allow businesses to thrive while keeping consumers safe.

What’s Next?

Both bills must pass in the Georgia House before heading to Governor Kemp for final approval. If signed into law, these changes will take effect statewide, reshaping the hemp market in Georgia.

Meanwhile, the Senate has also approved a separate bill expanding access to medical marijuana, allowing it in vape form and refining eligibility requirements.

Galaxy Groves’ Take

Hemp and cannabis regulation is a constantly evolving landscape, and these latest developments in Georgia are a clear sign that the industry must remain vigilant. At Galaxy Groves, we advocate for balanced policies that promote consumer safety without stifling innovation and economic growth.

We’ll continue to monitor these bills and keep you updated on what happens next. Stay informed, stay engaged, and support responsible hemp regulation.

What are your thoughts on these proposed restrictions? Drop a comment below and join the conversation!

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