One of the cool things about being a reporter is getting to tour places most people never see. As a kid, I was captivated by Mr. Rogers' visit to the crayon factory to see how they're made.
My favorite story of 2024 was a tour like that. I dressed up in protective gear to visit a manufacturing facility in Nash County where CBD and hemp products are made.
These gummies, vapes and cigarettes are a hot topic in politics because they're largely unregulated in North Carolina. Teens can easily buy products with untested, unknown and sometimes dangerous ingredients.
Asterra Labs in Nashville aims to make these products in a pharmaceutical-style facility – something company president John Bell says should be a model for how to do it the right way.
Bell was my tour guide in April, but he's also one of the most powerful Republican politicians in North Carolina. He's currently shifting from N.C. House majority leader to Rules Committee chairman, and his work will help inform his fellow lawmakers on the topic.
Attempts to pass new regulations around CBD and hemp products didn't get across the finish line in 2024. But that legislation could resurface in 2025, and there's a possibility it could be paired with a Senate proposal to legalize medical marijuana.
Seeing the production process at Asterra Labs up close, and hearing about the shadier side of the CBD world elsewhere, made it easier to understand the legislation and its stakes.
