North Carolina § 106-568 - 50. (For expiration of Article, see note) Legislative findings and purpose.

§ 106-568. 50. (For expiration of Article, see note) Legislative findings and purpose.

The General Assembly finds and declares that it is in the best interest of the citizens of North Carolina to promote and encourage the development of an industrial hemp industry in the State in order to expand employment, promote economic activity, and provide opportunities to small farmers for an environmentally sustainable and profitable use of crop lands that might otherwise be lost to agricultural production. The purposes of this Article are to establish an agricultural pilot program for the cultivation of industrial hemp in the State, to provide for reporting on the program by growers and processors for agricultural or other research, and to pursue any federal permits or waivers necessary to allow industrial hemp to be grown in the State. History (2015-299, s. 1.) Expiration of Article. - Session Laws 2015-299, s. 4, provides, in part: "This act shall expire on June 30 of the fiscal year in which the North Carolina Industrial Hemp Commission adopts and submits to the Governor and to the Revisor of Statutes a resolution that a State pilot program allowing farmers to lawfully grow industrial hemp is no longer necessary because (i) the United States Congress has enacted legislation that removes industrial hemp from the federal Controlled Substances Act and (ii) the legislation has taken effect." Editor's Notes. - Session Laws 2015-299, s. 4, made this Article effective October 31, 2015. Session Laws 2015-299, s. 3, as amended by Session Laws 2016-93, s. 7, provides: "The North Carolina Industrial Hemp Commission may adopt temporary rules to implement the provisions of this act. The temporary rules shall remain in effect until permanent rules that replace the temporary rules become effective."