National and local retailers are warning consumers that drinks and other THC-infused items will soon be banned under federal law.
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Total Wine & More sent emails to some customers this week warning that this was the “last chance” to buy THC-infused drinks and that the drinks would no longer be available after Dec. 10.
“Hemp-derived THC products will become illegal after December 11th unless Congress acts,” according to a Total Wine online campaign urging people to write their federal leaders. “This will remove the products you enjoy from retailers shelves. Federal prohibition of these products will not lessen consumer demand. It will drive the market underground and hurt public safety.”
Hemp and marijuana are varieties of the same cannabis plant but are classified different based on their tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels. Hemp is legal in North Carolina, while marijuana isn’t.
The federal government changed the definition of hemp that would keep most current hemp products from being sold today, including most intoxicating products. Earlier this month, Congress voted to extend the deadline a month until Dec. 11.
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Local hemp farmers, manufacturers and retailers have repeatedly warned that unless there are changes to the federal definitions, or action by state leaders, the hemp industry within North Carolina would be upended.
“The future of the hemp industry needs your voice,” wrote Hemp & Tea Company, which has eight retail stores in North Carolina, in a recent Facebook post. “Proposed hemp restrictions could have a major impact on the products, businesses, farmers, employees and communities that make up this industry. Staying informed is the first step, but taking actions is where your voice can make the biggest difference.”
In 2023, that industry reportedly created 328,000 jobs and $13 billion in wages in the state, The News & Observer previously reported. One in four adults have tried a cannabis-infused beverage, according to a 2026 report from NielsenIQ.
Despite repeated efforts to legislate the hemp industry, North Carolina doesn’t have rules preventing children from buying intoxicating products, and state data shows a 924% increase in the rate of emergency department visits related to cannabis consumption and children between 2017 and 2025, The N&O previously reported.
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This story was originally published September 30, 2026 at 6:00 AM.