North Carolina Considers ABC Commission for Cannabis Market Regulation Amid Legalization Debates
North Carolina is actively exploring regulatory frameworks for a potential legal cannabis market, with the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Commission emerging as a key contender for oversight. Currently, recreational and medical marijuana are illegal in the state, except on the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' tribal land. Democratic Governor Josh Stein has advocated for broader legalization and suggested the state's existing ABC system as a model for regulating marijuana and hemp-derived THC products. A state advisory council, formed by Governor Stein, recently met to examine government-controlled cannabis markets and heard from the North Carolina ABC Commission regarding its potential role. The ABC system in North Carolina, which directly controls liquor sales and distribution through 171 local boards operating 452 stores, generated significant public revenue in fiscal years 2024 and 2025. This revenue supports the state's General Fund, local governments, law enforcement, and various health services. T... 
