On The Record: Governor Josh Stein explores legalizing cannabis in North Carolina
>> IT'S TIME TO GO ON THE
RECORD WITH WRAL NEWS.
>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US FOR ON THE RECORD. I'M LENA
TILLETT. MANY OF YOU KNOW, I
HAVE A 2 AND A HALF YEAR OLD
SON AT HOME AND WE HAVE ENTERED
A REALLY FUN NEW PHASE OF
LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT. HE'S
LEARNING AND SAYING 2 WORDS
EVERY SINGLE DAY AND ONE OF THE
THINGS HE'S SAYING A LOT RIGHT
NOW IS WHAT'S THAT, MAMA?
WHAT'S THAT? MAMA AND USE, OF
COURSE, EXPECTING ME TO TELL
HIM WHAT SOMETHING IS AND TO
GIVE HIM THE DEFINITION OF THAT
THING FINDING THAT THIS IS
REALLY HELPING ME LEARN TO
EXPLAIN WHAT THINGS ARE IN THE
SIMPLEST TERMS SO THAT A 2
YEAR-OLD CAN GET IT.
THIS WEEK I INTERVIEWED
GOVERNOR JOSH STEIN ABOUT THE
CANNABIS INDUSTRY IN NORTH
CAROLINA. AN ABSOLUTELY BOOMING
BUSINESS BECOMING SO COMPLEX.
PEOPLE DON'T EVEN HAVE SHARED
LANGUAGE ABOUT WHAT IT IS AND
WHAT PRODUCTS ARE. OUR
INTERVIEW DID BREAK SOME NEWS
THIS WEEK. FIRST OFF, GOVERNOR
STEIN NOW SUPPORTS LEGALIZING
THC, INTOXICATING PRODUCTS FOR
ADULTS. YOU'RE PROBABLY
WONDERING WHAT'S THAT MARIJUANA
FOR ONE, BUT A WHOLE LOT MORE.
>> WE ALSO BROKE THAT THE
GOVERNOR IS TRYING TO BRING
SOME ORDER TO THIS INDUSTRY
THAT HE AND MANY OTHERS ARE
DESCRIBING AS THE WILD WEST.
>> BY FORMING A STATE ADVISORY
COUNCIL. IT'LL BE MADE UP OF
ALL KINDS OF STAKEHOLDERS AND
THE GOVERNOR TOLD ME IT WILL
INCLUDE PEOPLE WHO DON'T AGREE
WITH HIM IN. TONIGHT. WE WANTED
TO SHARE THAT CONVERSATION IN
FULL AND IT'S ONE WHERE I LEFT
LEARNING SOME NEW VOCABULARY.
>> LET'S BEGIN WITH WHAT IT IS
EXACTLY THAT YOU'RE ANNOUNCING
AND I THINK WE HAVE TO START
WITH THE CENTRAL QUESTION THAT
WOULD PROBABLY BE ON THE MINDS
OF MOST PEOPLE, WHICH IS DO
YOU SUPPORT THE LEGALIZATION
OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA USE
FOR ADULTS?
THE REASON, FIRST OF ALL, WHAT
I'M ANNOUNCING IS AN ADVISORY
COUNCIL ON CANNABIS POLICY.
>> AND I'M USING THE WORD
CANNABIS VERY INTENTIONALLY AND
NOT MARIJUANA BECAUSE THE 2
TRADITIONAL TERMS OF MARIJUANA
AND HOW HAVE REALLY LOST THEIR
MEANING. IN NORTH CAROLINA
EVERYWHERE. IF YOU GO TO A BAIT
SHOP ON HILLSBOROUGH STREET, ON
PEACE STREET, YOU KNOW, 3 DOORS
DOWN FROM BROUGHTON HIGH
SCHOOL. YOU CAN GET A HEMP
PRODUCT. A CANNABIS PRODUCT
WITH INTOXICATING, THC.
THERE IS NO AGE RESTRICTION ON
WHO CAN BUY THOSE PRODUCTS.
WHAT I WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE
THAT WE HAVE A SMART SOUND
POLICY RESPONSE TO WHAT'S GOING
ON IN THE REAL WORLD. WE'VE GOT
KIDS ABLE TO BUY INTOXICATING,
CANNABIS, THC. WE'VE GOT A
DOLE'S BUYING IT WITH HAVING
NO IDEA WHAT'S IN THAT PRODUCT
THERE. NO LABELING
REQUIREMENTS. WE HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT THE CONCENTRATION OF THC
IS. SO THAT ANSWERS THAT
QUESTION FUNDAMENTALLY IS I
BELIEVE ADULTS SHOULD BE ABLE
TO CHOOSE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO,
BUT THEY NEED TO HAVE
INFORMATION THEY NEED TO BE
PROTECTED AND THE PUBLIC NEEDS
TO BE PROTECTED.
THE PUBLIC, IT'S PROTECTED.
A NUMBER WAYS STARTS WITH
KEEPING KIDS. KIDS NEED TO BE
OUT OF THE SHOPS. IF YOU ARE
NOT. 21 YEARS OLD, YOU SHOULD
NOT BE MY INTOXICATING. THC.
THAT IS MY FIRM BELIEF IN THAT
IS NOT THE LAW TODAY IN NORTH
CAROLINA, BUT WE ALSO MAKE SURE
THAT THE PUBLIC IS PROTECTED.
THE PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE
DRIVING AND THEIR HIGH LAW
ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO HAVE THE
TEST TO KNOW WHETHER THIS
PERSON HAS COMMITTED A CRIME
RIGHT NOW WITH ALCOHOL. IT'S
PRETTY EASY TO DETERMINE IF
SOMEBODY HAS ALCOHOL IN THEIR
SYSTEM WHEN THEY'RE DRIVING
BADLY WITH MARIJUANA. IT'S VERY
DIFFICULT. SO WE NEED TO INVEST
IN THE EQUIPMENT FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO BE ABLE TO
ENSURE THAT PUBLIC IS SAFE
BECAUSE TODAY THEY'RE OUT THERE
HIGH WITH PRODUCTS THAT THEY
BOUGHT LAWFULLY AT A STORE.
AND WE HAVE NO WAY OF ENFORCING
THE LAW AGAINST THEM. OKAY.
SO I WANT THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID.
A WHOLE LOT THERE. I WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT I'M SPLITTING
THIS UP IN PARTS BECAUSE IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT. YOU TALK
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOU CALLED IT
THE WILD, WILD WEST. SO MANY
OTHER PEOPLE ALSO THINK THAT
RIGHT NOW IT SO UNREGULATED.
IT'S A CHAOTIC MARKET.
>> WHAT I WANT TO TAKE IT PIECE
BY PIECE. SO DO YOU SUPPORT
AGAIN THE LEGALIZING
RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA USE FOR
ADULTS AND IS THERE A CERTAIN
AGE WHERE YOU THINK THAT THAT
SHOULD HAPPEN? YEAH. SO I'M
JUST GONNA SET MARIJUANA SIDE
AND NOT TRYING TO POSITIONAL
BECAUSE COCAINE, MARIJUANA AND
HEMP HAVE NO MEANING IN TODAY'S
WORLD.
>> IT'S ALL CANNABIS. CANNABIS
IS THE PLAN. IT HAS BOTH OF
THESE TRADITIONAL PRODUCTS.
I BELIEVE THAT ADULTS SHOULD BE
ABLE TO USE CANNABIS WITH
INTOXICATING THC. IF THEY WANT.
SO, YES, I DO SUPPORT THAT.
BUT WHAT I REALLY SUPPORT IS
MAKE SURE THAT KIDS CANNOT BUY
IT.
BY LAW. TODAY IN NORTH
CAROLINA, THEY CAN. THAT IS
ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE TO ME,
WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB
PROTECTING OUR KIDS. BUT WE
ALSO HAVE TO DO A JOB
PROTECTING ADULTS WHO ARE
PURCHASING THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE
NO IDEA. THERE'S NO INDEPENDENT
LAB REQUIREMENT. THERE'S NO
LABELING REQUIREMENT. THERE'S
NO REQUIREMENT THAT THEY SAY
WHAT CONCENTRATION OF THC THERE
IS. THAT'S THE OUT HOW MUCH THC
IS IN THESE PRODUCTS. NO ONE
KNOWS EXPLAIN THE LANDSCAPE.
NOW. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE
JUST DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CANNABIS.
YOU HAVE HAVE DERIVED THC HAVE
OBVIOUSLY THC. THAT'S IN
MARIJUANA, WHICH IS ILLEGAL IN
NORTH CAROLINA.
>> SO WHAT'S YOUR UNDERSTANDING
OF HOW THE SYSTEM IS WORKING
RIGHT NOW AND WHAT'S LEGAL FOR
BOTH?
CHILDREN BECAUSE ANYONE CAN
GET HEMP-DERIVED THC PRODUCTS
AND ADULTS. YEAH. SO.
HISTORICALLY.
>> IF YOU HAVE CANNABIS AND THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEMP AND
MARIJUANA WAS WHAT WAS THE
CONCENTRATION OF THC IN THE
PLANT? IF IT WAS ABOVE 0.3%, IT
COULD GET YOU HIGH. THAT WAS
MARIJUANA. THAT'S ILLEGAL.
IF IT WAS LESS THAN THAT.
AND I THINK 2018, THE U.S.
CONGRESS SAID HELP IS LEGAL AS
LONG AS IT'S IN THE LOWER
CONCENTRATION. THE INDUSTRY DID
AS THEY TOOK THAT 0.3%
CONCENTRATION AND TOOK IT OUT
OF THE PLAN AND PUT IT IN THE
PRODUCT. SO NOW YOU HAVE A
PRODUCT WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF
OTHER STUFF IN IT THAT ADDS TO
THE WEIGHT. AND IF YOU HAVE
3 TENSE OF THAT, THE AMOUNT OF
THC IN THE PRODUCT WILL GET
YOU HIGH. AND THAT'S WHAT'S
FOR SALE ON STREET CORNERS ALL
ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA. SO IT'S
NO LONGER RELEVANT. YOU CALL A
SMEAR, WANTED TO CALL HIM IS
WILLING TO GET TOO HIGH.
IS IT AN INTOXICATING AMOUNT
OF THC? AND WHAT I WANT TO DO
IS BRING ORDER TO THIS MARKET
BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, IT IS
THE WILD WEST OUT THERE.
THE IDEA THAT WE HAVE A SYSTEM
WHERE THIS PRODUCT, WHICH IS
A DRUG, IT CAN GET TOO HIGH
IT FOR SALE OUT THERE WITHOUT
ANY RESTRICTIONS ON HOW IT'S SO
TO ME IS UNSAFE. WITHOUT A
HOME. I BELIEVE ADULTS SHOULD
BE ABLE TO DRINK ALCOHOL IF
THEY CHOOSE. BUT WE HAVE A
SYSTEM THAT ENSURES THAT WE'RE
PROTECTING KIDS. YOU CANNOT BE
UNDER 21 UPI. 21 OR OLDER TO
BUY ALCOHOL HAVE TO GO TO A
SPECIAL STORE. YOU HAVE AN
EXACT LEE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HOW
MUCH PROOF WHAT IS THE ALCOHOL
PROOF OF THIS PRODUCT? IS THERE
ANY OTHER INGREDIENT IN THIS
PRODUCT? ALL OF THIS IS NO.
WE NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING
SIMILAR THAT PROTECTS THE
PUBLIC WHEN IT COMES TO THC.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO BRING
ORDER TO THE WILD WEST. THAT
IS NORTH CAROLINA. I MEAN, IT'S
REALLY IRONIC THAT IN SOME
WAYS. THE MOST LIBERAL.
PRO MARIJUANA ADULT USE
STATEMENT. COUNTRY IS NORTH
CAROLINA. IT'S NOT COLORADO.
IT'S NOT MASSACHUSETTS. AND
IT'S NOT THE STATES THAT
LEGALIZED IT IN CREATING A
REGULATORY STRUCTURE TO SELL
IT. IT'S NORTH CAROLINA WHERE
WE HAVE NO RULES WHATSOEVER.
THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. IT'S IN
THE LEGISLATURE'S SUPPOSED TO
BE THE BODY THAT CREATES THESE
RULES AROUND THIS. YEAH.
AND THEY'VE BEEN WRESTLING WITH
IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.
YOU HAVE THE HOUSE HAS BEEN
TRYING TO WRESTLE WITH THE VAPE
SHOPS. IF THE SENATE THAT'S
BEEN LOOKING AT THE ISSUE OF
MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND THEY'VE
BEEN IN CONFLICT. AND SO PART
OF WHAT I WANT THIS ADVISORY
COUNCIL TO DO IS TO GET ALL
OF THE STAKEHOLDERS AROUND THE
TABLE TOGETHER.
REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC
LEGISLATORS ON THE HOUSE SIDE,
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRAT LEGISLATORS
ON THE SENATE SIDE, PUBLIC
HEALTH FOLKS, PUBLIC SAFETY,
FOLKS WE WANT EVERYBODY TO COME
TOGETHER TO SAY WHAT SHOULD
IT LOOK LIKE IN NORTH CAROLINA?
I THINK THAT ANYBODY WHO LOOKS
AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN NORTH
CAROLINA, WHO REALLY
UNDERSTANDS IT AND A LOT OF
PEOPLE TO YOUR POINT EARLIER,
THEY HAVE NO IDEA JUST GO INTO
A VAPE SHOP, ASKED THE COURT
WHAT PRODUCTS? WE'LL GET ME THE
MOST HIGH AND THEY WILL GIVE
YOU SOMETHING. AND AND IT WOULD
GET TOO HIGH IF YOU WERE TO
TAKE SO THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE.
SO IF WE DON'T ACCEPT THE
STATUS QUO, WHAT DO WE WANT?
THE REALITY TO ACTUALLY BE?
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS ADVISORY
COUNCIL. I HOPE WILL HELP US
TO ANSWER. YOU KNOW, WE
REPORTED ON THE CASE IN
GRANVILLE COUNTY WHERE 4
CHILDREN BOUGHT FOR VAPING
PRODUCTS RIGHT NEXT TO THEIR
MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE PRODUCTS
TESTED OVER THE LEGAL LIMIT.
>> FOR THC, WE WENT UNDERCOVER
LAST YEAR PURCHASE. WHAT WAS
BEING BRANDED AS WE WILL
PRODUCT. SO THEY'RE STATING
THAT THEY ARE LEGAL PRODUCTS.
80% OF THEM WERE OVER THE LIMIT
FOR THC. I MEAN, IS THERE
ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO WITHIN
YOUR POWER NOW AS GOVERNOR TO
REGULATE THE U.S.? THE
CHALLENGES WITH THAT INDUSTRY
WILL SAY IS IT WAS HIGHER
CONCENTRATION, THC THAT WILL
GET YOU HIGH. BUT IT WASN'T
ABOUT THE LEVEL WHEN YOU TAKE
THE WHOLE WEIGHT OF THE
PRODUCT.
>> A BROWNIE IS A VERY HEAVY
THING HEAVIER THAN A LEAF.
SO IF YOU HAVE 0.3% OR MORE IN
A LEAF. IT'S PRETTY EASY TO
DETERMINE GET THAT'S ABOVE THE
LEGAL LIMIT. IF YOU'RE 0.3 THC
AND A HEAVY PRODUCT, THEY WILL
SAY IT'S A LEGAL PRODUCT
BECAUSE IT 5 FALLS WITHIN THE
FEDERAL LAW. WHAT I WANT TO
DO IS TO SET ASIDE THE LIMITS
THIS 0.3 AND SORT OF THIS MYTH
OF WHAT'S HOW AND WHAT'S
MARIJUANA AND JUST REALIZE THAT
THESE TALKS GETTING THC
PRODUCTS ARE THERE AND COME
UP WITH A SYSTEM THAT IT HAS
STRUCTURE. IT HAS PROTECTIONS
THAT KEEPS KIDS OUT OF THE
STORE THAT LETS ADULTS KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. THEY'RE
PURCHASING AND THAT GENERATES
REVENUES SO WE CAN DEAL WITH
THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC
SAFETY CONSEQUENCES. YOU KNOW,
IF WE'RE GOING TO START
ENFORCING OUR DRIVING WHILE
INTOXICATED OR WHILE HIGH LAWS
EFFECTIVELY. WE NEED THE STATE
CRIME LAB. A LOT MORE MONEY
AND WE NEED TO GIVE LAW
ENFORCEMENT ARE OUT ON THE
ROADS AND FORCING THE LAWS MORE
RESOURCES THAT TAKES REVENUE.
AND THAT'S WHAT SOME OF THIS
REVENUE CAN GO TOWARDS.
>> SO WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE
PEOPLE? HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE, IN FACT, WHO HAVE
LOW-LEVEL MARIJUANA POSSESSION
CONVICTIONS. THE GOVERNOR
SHARES WHY HE THINKS THOSE
RECORDS SHOULD NOW BE EXPUNGED.
WHEN WE COME BACK.