He served as Democratic member of the General Assembly who represented the state's thirteenth Senate district, including Hoke and Robeson counties.
Weinstein joined the Board of Trustees for University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 1992 and served two years as chairman.
Senator Weinstein was instrumental in a 6.9 million special appropriation to build the first new residence hall at the university in 25 years.
UNCP Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings stated that "Senator Weinstein has been a monumental game changer for this university.
When he went to Raleigh, he went to work for us," Cummings said, "the result is this building which is the largest construction project in university history.