CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NBC Charlotte is learning about preparations underway in the event marijuana becomes legal in North Carolina. This comes as several states across the country make cannabis legal.
Now, local officials are weighing in about what they would do if it becomes a reality.
One of the big questions for officials regards where all the marijuana would go. Mecklenburg County regulators say it could be stored in a warehouse at the county’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board headquarters.
Currently, there are stacks of alcohol stored in the warehouse.
Jason Hughes is the CEO of the Mecklenburg County ABC board, which regulates local liquor sales.
“If they decided we were the outlet that was going to be selling cannabis, I assume we would have enough space to get started,” Hughes told NBC Charlotte.
Marijuana is making headlines in the state after Asheville city regulators discussed preparations this week. That includes the new purchase of a warehouse to deal with growth in liquor sales, but with additional capacity for cannabis if it’s legalized.
However, Hughes says the local ABC board is not looking to buy right now.
“I would not want to invest public funds in something that may or may not occur,” Hughes said.
Hughes says if recreational marijuana became legal in North Carolina, they would need time to train employees on sales.
“Currently, we train our employees extensively when it comes to selling alcohol to make sure they know how to check IDs, properly spot fake IDs,” Hughes said.
Recreational marijuana is now legal in more than half a dozen states. Maine is expected to begin legal sales next year.
Liquor regulators in other states advise keeping alcohol and marijuana separate, according to Asheville city regulators. If that happens, Hughes says it could cost the county’s ABC board more money.
“Then you have to have separate stores, that would obviously cause us to hire more people,” Hughes said.
While there is no current legislation to legalize marijuana in North Carolina, Hughes says if it were to pass, they would be ready to move forward.