We start this week with two state-level stories that could impact the Cape Fear area. First, a look a bill in the North Carolina General Assembly that could ban ‘smokable hemp,’ which makes up a major part of the state’s hemp industry, including farmers, producers, and retailers. The bill started out as a cooperative project between the hemp industry and legislators — but a recent version has gone in a new direction.
Second, we look at a new bill that could break the state’s monopoly on liquor sales. The North Carolina ABC has been a bone of contention for years and, while there are supporters on both sides, it’s an issue that doesn’t break neatly along partisan lines. We get into the latest effort to change the system and why some think it needs to stay in place.
Then, a look at Wilmington’s voter initiative process. Wilmington is one of just eight cities that grants its residents the power to put new laws and amendments – including rezoning ordinances – to a public vote, circumventing city council. But in 2016, the city requested a change in the law that made it much harder for residents to use that power. We get into why that might have happened.
Last, a deep dive into the mysterious case of Tidewater Brewing. Announced last year, Tidewater was supposed to be the region’s first co-op brewery but apparently ran into some legal trouble, followed by Hurricane Florence. The brewery looked like it was going to bounce back, launching a Go Fund Me and repairing the roof. Then the founders went silent — apparently taking co-op shareholders’ money with them.
If you missed any of these stories, you can catch up below. Then take a deeper dive with our weekly podcast.
Lawmakers threaten to send North Carolina’s hemp industry up in smoke, Hemp Farmacy fighting back
The DEA has been seizing hemp shipped to this Wilmington CBD producer. Here’s why
Mixed reactions to bill ending state liquor monopoly, local poll shows 84% prefer privatizing
What’s the deal with Tidewater, Wilmington’s first co-op brewery? Nobody’s willing to say
