North Carolina

In 2014, North Carolina authorized the Industrial Hemp Pilot Program, which allows for hemp cultivation and production. The North Carolina General Assembly passed Senate Bill 313 in 2015, allowing the Industrial Hemp Commission to establish regulations and a licensing structure to adhere to federal requirements.
Hemp-derived CBD with less than 0.3 percent THC is not subject to any regulations or laws. The FDA has yet to accept CBD as a food or beverage additive or over-the-counter medication for any ailment.
The state of North Carolina was supposed to run out of its hemp pilot program in 2020, after which it would have had to shut down. But, thanks to a US congressional requirement, the expiration date has been extended till the end of 2021. In 2014, the state passed House Bill 220, also known as the Epilepsy Alternative Treatment Act , which allows individuals with epilepsy to possess and use hemp extract containing less than 0.9 percent THC and at least 5 percent CBD by weight if they join the state's program.

Table of contents

1. Brief info

  • Is CBD Legal in North Carolina?
 The products that contain less than 0.3% THC are federally legal in North Carolina.
  •  Who Can Buy CBD in North Carolina? 
Individuals at the age of 18 or over.
  •   Who Can Grow CBD Products in North Carolina?
People that have a license issued by the government.
  •   Who is protected from criminal offenses regarding CBD use?
The ones who didn’t exceed the dosage and possession limits of CBD.
  • More in-depth information about the state regulations and laws

2. North Carolina CBD laws

In 2014, North Carolina authorized the Industrial Hemp Pilot Program, which allows for hemp cultivation and production. The North Carolina General Assembly passed Senate Bill 313 in 2015, allowing the Industrial Hemp Commission to establish regulations and a licensing structure to adhere to federal requirements. The Cannabis Control Act of 2016 was changed again in May 2016 with House Bill 992, which gave authorization for a hemp research program. The North Carolina Farm Act of 2019, also known as Senate Bill 315, had additional provisions on CBD production, distribution, and possession. However, after a disagreement over whether to ban smokable hemp, all references to the plant were removed from the bill. The state of North Carolina was supposed to run out of its hemp pilot program in 2020, after which it would have had to shut down. But, thanks to a US congressional requirement, the expiration date has been extended till the end of 2021. In 2014, the state passed House Bill 220, also known as the Epilepsy Alternative Treatment Act, which allows individuals with epilepsy to possess and use hemp extract containing less than 0.9 percent THC and at least 5 percent CBD by weight if they join the state's program.

Licensing Requirements

Hemp-derived CBD with less than 0.3 percent THC is not subject to any regulations or laws. The FDA has yet to accept CBD as a food or beverage additive or over-the-counter medication for any ailment. Suppliers are held to strict standards by the FDA, including providing accurate information. Suppliers are also required to comply with federal regulations and make no false claims. Patients and caregivers must submit a North Carolina Epilepsy Alternative Treatment Act Caregiver Registration Application if they want to use hemp extract with 0.9 percent THC. This form can be completed from the comfort of your own home or submitted by mail to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Patients with intractable epilepsy are eligible for the program. Applicants must give their contact information, research purpose, and planting data. The following items must be included in the planting information:
  • The planting locations and size (in square feet)
  • The county in which the applicant's agricultural site is located
  • Coordinates of the marijuana plant's location using a global positioning system (GPS)
  • The variety of hemp intended for planting is commercial, or industrial.
  • The origin of the plant
  • Each variety to be planted will need its own certification.
Candidates must identify the marketable components of the plant to be marketed. Individuals must also specify which portion of the plant will be offered to the market.

Where to Buy CBD Products Legally In North Carolina?

CBD derived from hemp is legal to purchase in the state, as long as it contains less than 0.3 percent THC. The US Postal Service and private delivery services are allowed to deliver hemp-derived CBD items to North Carolina addresses. Hemp-derived CBD products are now available in a variety of retail outlets throughout North Carolina, as well as on the internet. The state of North Carolina allows medical hemp extract with 0.9% THC, yet there are no legal sales available, leaving patients and caregivers without access to products inside the state. In the state of North Carolina, the Better Business Bureau has approved 12 CBD retailers.
  • Charlotte CBD, Charlotte
  • Mooresville CLT CBD, Charlotte
  • Piedmont Green CBD, Concord
  • Mad CBD, Concord
  • Direct CBD Online, Charlotte
  • Green Re-Leaf, Conover
  • The Plug Distribution, Charlotte
  • iExhale Organics, Charlotte
  • Trek CBD, Holly Springs
  • The Hemp Store, Chapel Hill
  • East Coast Hemp Supply, Dunn
  • Hemp Times, Raleigh

Medical Cannabis in North Carolina

To be eligible for a North Carolina Medical Marijuana Card so you may lawfully purchase medical marijuana from one of the dispensaries when they open, we anticipate that the requirements will be comparable to those listed below:
  • You must be at least 18 years of age.
  • Patients under the age of 18 must have permission from their parents.
  • Have a qualifying illness on which you are receiving treatment.
  • Hold a physician's certificate that is official.
  • Be a resident of North Carolina with proper identification (such as a driver's license or state ID card)

Steps to Receive a Medical Marijuana Card in North Carolina

Step 1: Book an Appointment

Visit a certified physician and get a document confirming your condition, and that treatment with cannabis is appropriate. 

Step 2: Application

Fill in the online application and wait for approval. 

Step 3: Receive the Card

Receive your card after 35 days of your submission.  

North Carolina CBD possession limits

CBD products in North Carolina are not restricted in terms of quantity, and there is no limit for medical patients with epilepsy who have registered with the state. Medical hemp extract must have a THC concentration of less than 0.9 percent and a CBD content of at least 5 percent by weight to be considered legal.

3. Notes

  1. Geoffrey William Guy; Brian Anthony Whittle; Philip Robson (2004). The Medicinal Uses of Cannabis and Cannabinoids. Pharmaceutical Press. pp. 74–. ISBN 978-0-85369-517-2.
  2. Bloomsbury Publishing (2010). Dictionary of Medical Terms. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 139.