Raleigh: Time running out for key pro-family legislation, drug policy developments raise alarms | Eastern North Carolina Now

As lawmakers enter the final stretch of this year’s Long Session, there is growing concern that several important bills supported by Return America may never make it to the floor.

Currently stalled in the Rules Committees are several measures that reflect biblical values and protect the family, including:

A resolution to display “In God We Trust” in legislative chambers;
Two bills allowing private and Christian schools to possess concealed firearms for student protection;
Two parental rights bills clarifying the role of parents in education and upbringing;
A bill aimed at preventing the sexual exploitation of women and minors;
A proposal requiring stricter medical accountability for gender transition procedures, particularly involving minors.
Though these bills enjoy broad support, they languish while the General Assembly eyes adjournment as early as late July, possibly sooner. These are not radical proposals; they are common-sense, moral measures that deserve action, not procrastination or neglect.

Meanwhile, three other major developments this week in Raleigh deserve the attention of every Christian concerned about the moral and physical health of our state, especially amid America’s worsening drug crisis.

Youth Advocates Push for Action on Vaping Epidemic

A group of high school students visited the General Assembly this week to lobby for legislation raising the legal age to purchase tobacco and vaping products from 18 to 21. Among them was Charlene Zorn, an advocate whose 15-year-old stepson, Solomon Wynn, died from vaping-related complications.

House Bill 430 and Senate Bill 318, titled the “Protect Youth From the Harms of Vaping & Nicotine Act,” would require retailers to obtain permits and follow responsible sales practices. Although these bipartisan bills enjoy strong support, they missed the crossover deadline, making progress this session unlikely.

Teen advocates testified that vaping is rampant in schools, harming academic performance, athletic ability, and long-term health. “It’s not only in the bathrooms,” one student said. “It’s in the classrooms.”

Lawmakers Advance Regulation of Kratom, Ban Synthetic Variants

A House committee moved forward House Bill 468, which would regulate kratom – a plant-based stimulant widely sold in convenience stores across the state.

While some testified that kratom eases pain, anxiety, and opioid withdrawal, the substance remains unregulated at the federal level and has been linked to hundreds of autopsies in the state. Lawmakers are especially alarmed by synthetic derivatives like 7-hydroxy mitragynine (“7-OH”), which are dangerous because they are far more potent and addictive.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jeff McNeely (R-Iredell), would:

Ban sales to individuals under 21;
Require retailer licensing;
Limit concentrations of 7-OH;
Prohibit synthetic versions outright.
Former FDA (Food and Drug Administration) attorney Sheldon Bradshaw described synthetic kratom as dangerously addictive and misleadingly marketed. 

Governor Stein Establishes Cannabis Advisory Council

On Wednesday, Governor Josh Stein signed an executive order forming the North Carolina Advisory Council on Cannabis. This 24-member body is tasked with developing https://www.sawkarpharmacycollege.com/ policy recommendations by March 2026, with a focus on legalizing marijuana in a way that allows adult use but protects youth. Members include officials from law enforcement, public health, agriculture, the Department of Justice, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Stein described the current landscape for THC-infused products as “the wild, wild West,” citing a more than 600% spike in cannabis-related emergency room visits for children in recent years. His proposals include banning intoxicating THC product sales to anyone under 21 and enforcing proper labeling and ID checks.

Rev. Mark Creech, head of Government Relations for Return America, compared the Governor’s initiative to “an omelet with a rotten egg”- some good intentions spoiled by a rotten premise. “No matter how many experts are on the council, legalizing recreational marijuana is fundamentally misguided,” said Creech. “Studies are increasingly revealing its grave dangers. Adding this to the destruction already caused by alcohol would be disastrous for both adults and youth.”

Conclusion

While drug policy dominates the headlines in Raleigh this week, as crucial as such measures are, other righteous and urgent pieces of legislation rooted in biblical values sit idle. This situation should alarm every faithful Christian.

Return America urges believers across North Carolina to remain vigilant, pray, and speak out. Lawmakers need to act now on these bills. Our voices are needed now more than ever to ensure that the principles of the Word of God prevail in our state’s laws, not only for today’s citizens but for future generations.

Please get in touch with your state lawmakers in both the House and Senate and respectfully urge them to take immediate action on these critical pieces of legislation. Encourage them not to delay. If you’re unsure who represents you, visit this link and follow the prompts to find out. Once you do, send them an email or call their Raleigh office. If you can’t reach them directly, leave a message with their Legislative Assistant or on their voicemail.

https://revmarkcreech.org/this-week-in-raleigh-time-running-out-for-key-pro-family-legislation-drug-policy-developments-raise-alarms/