North Carolina

Regulatory Framework

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) [1] regulates the limited medical cannabis program in the state.

The Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) [2] also plays a limited role, overseeing the North Carolina Industrial Hemp Program, which regulates the cultivation and processing of hemp.

Legal Status

Market Status Statute Year
Adult-Use Illegal North Carolina Controlled Substances Act (Article 5, Chapter 90) 1971 [4]
Medical Limited N.C.G.S. c. 90 § 90-95(d)(4) 2015 [5]
Homegrow Illegal North Carolina Controlled Substances Act (Article 5, Chapter 90) 1971 [4]

Track-and-Trace

North Carolina does not have a regulated licensed production industry and does not have a track-and-trace system [6].

Licensing

For medical cannabis, patients must register with the NCDHHS to possess cannabis extracts meeting specific THC and CBD requirements [1]. However, North Carolina's program is unlike other medical marijuana programs and does not involve issuing cultivation or dispensary licenses.

Possession Limits

Item Possession Limit Statute
Marijuana Under 0.5 oz (misdemeanor) [4] N.C.G.S. c. 90 § 90-95(d)(4)
- Over 0.5 oz to 1.5 oz (misdemeanor) [4] N.C.G.S. c. 90 § 90-95(d)(4)
- Over 1.5 oz (felony) [4] N.C.G.S. c. 90 § 90-95(d)(4)

Medical Cannabis

North Carolina's program is specific to intractable epilepsy. Patients must be registered with the NCDHHS and have a written statement from a neurologist confirming their diagnosis and recommending hemp extract as a treatment [5].

Additional Resources

References