North Carolina Poll Shows Majority Support for Marijuana Legalization

Poll Findings on Adult-Use Legalization

The poll found that a majority of North Carolina residents support legalizing marijuana for adults 21 and older. The survey, conducted in September 2026, marks the first time in two years that a statewide poll has measured public opinion on cannabis legalization in North Carolina. Specific percentage breakdowns weren't disclosed in the initial release.

The timing coincides with renewed legislative activity in Raleigh. North Carolina lawmakers have considered medical cannabis bills in recent sessions but haven't advanced adult-use legalization measures beyond committee review. The state currently permits hemp-derived products containing THC under the 2018 Farm Bill framework, though legislative proposals to restrict those products have surfaced repeatedly since 2024.

Hemp-Derived THC Product Support

Respondents also expressed support for keeping hemp-derived THC products legal for adults over 21, opposing legislative efforts to ban or heavily restrict those items. North Carolina's hemp industry has grown rapidly since 2018. Delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC, and THCA products are now widely available in retail stores across the state. Those products exist in a regulatory gray area—derived from hemp but producing psychoactive effects similar to marijuana.

Several bills introduced in the 2025 and 2026 legislative sessions sought to ban or limit hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids, though none advanced to a floor vote. The poll suggests that efforts to restrict hemp THC products lack broad public backing, which complicates the path for prohibition measures in future sessions.

Public opinion data will likely inform legislative strategy as North Carolina lawmakers weigh competing bills on medical cannabis expansion, adult-use legalization, and hemp regulation in the 2027 session.

Legislative Context and Next Steps

North Carolina remains one of 14 states without a comprehensive medical cannabis program, though limited CBD oil access exists for patients with specific conditions. The General Assembly has debated medical marijuana bills since 2022, with the Senate advancing a measure in 2023 that stalled in the House. No adult-use legalization bill has received a committee hearing.

The poll results arrive as neighboring Virginia and Maryland operate adult-use markets and South Carolina debates medical cannabis legislation. North Carolina legislators have cited public opinion as a factor in prior debates, though committee chairs haven't committed to scheduling votes on pending cannabis bills. For full background on this story, see the CannIntel topic hub on North Carolina legalization.

The 2027 legislative session begins in January. Observers expect reintroduction of medical cannabis bills and continued debate over hemp-derived THC regulation, though adult-use legalization prospects remain uncertain despite the poll's findings.