Sen. Lazzara files bill in North Carolina Senate to regulate hemp-derived beverages

A new bill filed by Sen. Lazzara seeks to establish rules for the manufacture, sale, and transportation of hemp-derived beverages in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 535 on March 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Regulate Hemp-Derived Beverages.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill regulates nonalcoholic hemp-derived beverages by defining them separately from alcoholic beverages and establishing prohibitions and standards for their manufacture, sale, transportation, and consumption in North Carolina. Hemp-derived beverages are defined as fit for human consumption but may contain concentrations of various hemp-derived cannabinoids. The bill makes it unlawful to manufacture, sell, transport, or possess these beverages unless authorized, akin to existing alcohol laws, with violations classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor. The ABC Commission is tasked with setting standards and testing these beverages for safety and compliance, and it must amend its rules accordingly. The effective date for these regulations is July 1, 2025.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Timothy D. Moffitt proposed the most bills (70) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Lazzara, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2021 to represent the state’s 6th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Harry Brown.