www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-08 13:28:00
(The Center Square) – Making the age 21 to buy hemp products is included in a regulations proposal at the North Carolina General Assembly.
Rep. Dr. Tim Reeder, R-Pitt
Michael Lewis 2024 via NCLeg.gov
The Protect Children from Cannabis Act, also known as House Bill 680, pushes for oversight and accountability of the industry. Rep. Dr. Tim Reeder, R-Pitt, authored the legislation alongside Republican Reps. Allen Chesser of Nash County and Tricia Cotham of Mecklenburg County.
The bill says between 2019 and 2023 emergency department visits for tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive component determining whether hemp or marijuana, rose 600% for youth ages 17 or younger. For 18- and 19-year-olds, the rate was more than 1,000%.
“Evidence also shows,” the bill says, “that cannabis use during adolescence and young adulthood may harm the developing brain, and youth who use intoxicating cannabis can experience multiple negative impacts such as problems with memory, learning, school and social life; impaired driving; the potential for addiction; and increased risk of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, psychosis, schizophrenia, and suicidal behaviors.”
Hemp was declassified as a controlled substance in 2022. The concentration of delta-9 THC, for North Carolina law purposes, determines if the plant cannabis sativa is hemp or marijuana. More than 0.3% is illegal marijuana; less than 0.3% is hemp.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-06-17 07:59:00
NAACP President Derrick Johnson announced President Donald Trump will not be invited to the NAACP’s national convention in Charlotte due to his perceived attacks on democracy and civil rights. Johnson criticized Trump for unconstitutional executive orders, military misuse, and undermining democracy for personal gain. If upheld, Trump would be the first sitting president in 116 years denied an invitation. Despite this, Trump has boosted support among Black voters, especially younger Black men, and historically won North Carolina three times. The NAACP, advocating civil rights, continues to litigate against Trump’s administration. North Carolina’s political landscape has shifted, with growing unaffiliated voters and a divided state government.
(The Center Square) – Citing democracy and civil rights differences, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said President Donald Trump will not be invited to Charlotte for his organization’s national convention July 12-16.
“Right now, it’s clear – Donald Trump is attacking our democracy and our civil rights,” Johnson said. “He believes more in the fascist playbook than in the U.S. Constitution. This playbook is radical and un-American. The president has signed unconstitutional executive orders to oppress voters and undo federal civil rights protections; he has illegally turned the military on our communities; and he continually undermines every pillar of our democracy to make himself more powerful and to personally benefit from the U.S. government.”
Trump, second-term Republican, would be the first sitting president in 116 years to not receive an invitation, should it hold. The nation’s 47th commander in chief has worked from a campaign slogan of making America “great again,” implementing a series of orders that reverse several Biden-era policies, the majority of which Congress is yet to codify.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has backed several litigations against the presidential administration, and the Republican majority General Assembly of North Carolina, often alongside with Democrats or their advocating entities. Trump has won North Carolina three times in presidential races, and in November swept the electoral college votes of seven swing states 93-0 against Democrat Kamala Harris.
Trump, in comparison to 2020 against Joe Biden, doubled his share of Black voters against Harris, and in the under age 45 category of Black men, he also doubled his share. Harris’ father is from Jamaica, her mother from India.
The NAACP convention arrives in a state once blue as they come and now with a voting bloc split in thirds.
On Jan. 1, 2004, the state’s more than 5 million voters were split 47.6% Democrats, 34.4% Republicans and 17.7% unaffiliated. That was five years after the state’s 10 executive offices – the Council of State – was occupied by 10 Democrats.
Today, the more than 7.5 million voters are 37.8% unaffiliated, 30.7% Democrats and 30.4% Republicans. And the Council of State has been a Republican majority before falling back in November to a 5-5 split.
A trip by Trump would have been his third since the Jan. 20 inauguration. His first venture from the White House was four days later to see the devastation in the western part of the state caused by Hurricane Helene. His second was a week ago to visit Fort Bragg as the Army celebrated 250 years.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Left
The article presents facts about the NAACP’s decision not to invite Donald Trump to its national convention while quoting NAACP President Derrick Johnson’s strongly worded criticisms of Trump’s actions. The framing allows Johnson’s perspective to dominate early in the article, with phrases like “attacking our democracy” and “fascist playbook” left unchallenged or unexplored from alternative views. Although the article includes context about Trump’s electoral success and shifts in voter demographics, the lack of balancing quotes or responses from Trump’s team or other political figures suggests a subtle ideological leaning. However, the article refrains from editorializing in its own voice and includes verifiable data, keeping the overall tone close to factual reporting with a slight lean toward a progressive viewpoint due to emphasis and selection of quotes.
SUMMARY: North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein, known for his bipartisan approach and lack of vetoes so far, faces pressure to reject Senate Bill 50, recently passed by the General Assembly. The bill would allow residents aged 18 and older to carry concealed weapons without a permit or training. Critics argue this includes high school seniors carrying loaded, hidden handguns without restrictions. Despite Stein’s efforts to cooperate with Republicans, the bill reflects a lack of reciprocation. Though it passed with strong support, enough opposition exists to uphold a veto. Rob Schofield of NC Newsline urges Stein to veto the measure and rally support.
SUMMARY: Congress is debating a new federal fee on hybrid and electric vehicles, potentially charging drivers up to $500 annually. North Carolina’s electric vehicle registrations have surged from 10,000 in 2018 to over 110,000 today, with 70% in Wake County. The House budget bill proposes $100 yearly for hybrids and $250 for EVs, though some Republicans seek to double these amounts to offset declining gas tax revenue. Critics argue such fees could deter EV adoption and hinder emission reductions. North Carolina already charges state fees, and the same bill aims to phase out the $7,500 federal EV tax credit after next year.
Congress may add a yearly federal fee, $100 for hybrids and $250 for electric vehicles, with some senators pushing to double it. The charge would stack on state fees and could erase the fuel savings that attract many buyers.
