Everything You Need to Know About Medical Marijuana in North Carolina
There are over 10 million people living, working, and playing in North Carolina. A massive portion of this population suffers from the leading maladies this treatment plan can directly help, including anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, and depression. Everything from helping cancer patients deal with the painful repercussions of chemotherapy and radiation to ensuring veterans have a resource to manage PTSD symptoms is possible through open access to medical cannabis.
Given so many benefits, what are the current statutes and laws concerning medical marijuana in North Carolina availability? Our team at Charlotte Marijuana Doctor is working hard to pre-qualify patients just like you, so when medical cannabis becomes available, you are ready to begin this revolutionary treatment.
In the meantime, let’s go through a rundown of the various laws and parameters of using medical marijuana in our state.
What is Medical Marijuana?
Before we dig into the legality, it helps to clear the air a little bit. Medical-grade marijuana is no different than recreational marijuana, except it is only available to people who have been qualified via a medical marijuana ID card. In states where medical marijuana is available, you have to meet with a licensed physician team like ours to receive that card.
The marijuana used to treat various symptoms and issues is derived from the Cannabis sativa plant. This is what has been researched so heavily to treat many different illnesses, from epilepsy to chronic pain.
What is the Current North Carolina Medical Marijuana Status?
To start, you cannot use recreational marijuana in the state of North Carolina. There is only one minor exception related to native American territories, but we’ll get into that in a moment.
As for medical marijuana North Carolina, the general population does not currently have access to these treatments. However, like the recreational side of things, there are some exceptions.
Medical marijuana North Carolina was first introduced in the early 2000s. Public support created a movement that gained momentum as more and more patient stories and evidence-backed research began to surface.
In 2014, these actions led North Carolina to take a massive step forward with the Hope 4 Haley and Friends Act. This was initially known as the North Carolina Epilepsy Alternative Treatment Act when it was a pilot program.
Signed in 2015 by Governor McCrory, it allows residents to use THC/CBD products at an extremely low concentration amount. This law is why you see so many “dispensaries” of medical marijuana North Carolina products that are only certain CBD oils or edibles with low to no THC concentrations.
Since then, plenty of people have fueled the expansion efforts to grow the program, but those have not passed as of yet.
This means if you wish to use medical marijuana North Carolina products, you have to follow current laws stating:
- CBD Oil: People with proper qualifying conditions (like severe epilepsy) can purchase CBD oil derived from hemp with less than 0.3% THC content.
- Limited Cannabis Research: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was granted special privileges in 2015 to conduct clinical trials for CBD oil treating intractable epilepsy.
- Criminalization: Recreational use of marijuana is 100% illegal in the state unless you are on native American lands where it has been made legal.
What Happens if I’m Caught Using Medical Marijuana North Carolina Products?
The state of medical marijuana is hotly contested in North Carolina, with massive public support falling on the positive side of things. That is because most residents understand how helpful it is for military veterans, older Americans dealing with chronic pain, and cancer patients trying to live a “normal” life.
If you are caught without a medical marijuana card using any form of cannabis, you are looking at various penalties and potential criminal charges. Even if you’re “just passing through” from one state that allows it to another, you are transporting an illegal drug across state lines and get charged with severe consequences.
Possession of North Carolina medical marijuana can be:
- Misdemeanor charge and up to $200 fine for under 0.5oz.
- 1-45 days in jail plus a fine of up to $1,000 if 0.5-1.5oz.
- 3-8 months of jail with a felony charge and up to a $1,000 fine for anything over 1.5oz.
The much safer route is to apply for pre-qualification and wait for the highly anticipated day when medical marijuana North Carolina is legal.
Are There Any Bills for Medical Marijuana North Carolina?
In 2016, the state made growing industrial hemp similar to medical marijuana in North Carolina, but without the THC. That is why you see many “hemp” pharmacies all over the state.
Then, Congress passed the 2018 Farm Bill. This made it legal to grow, sell, transport, and possess hemp across state lines, but it had to be within federal and state laws with nothing over that 0.3% THC content rating. That effectively moved the enforcement of hemp from the Justice Department to the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture).
In 2023, the North Carolina House of Representatives adjourned without taking up new legislation concerning medical marijuana. This is a bill that passed the Senate known as the North Carolina Compassionate Care Act, sponsored by Senator Bill Rabon (R). It passed by a vote of 36-10.
The delaying of this bill made North Carolina only one of thirteen states to have not enacted some form of medical marijuana program. Even though there is over 82% of North Carolinians ready and willing to support medical marijuana, it hasn’t entirely made it over the roadblock.
This action was after the state issued a report on decriminalization stating that lowering the fines and penalties for possession of small amounts would lead to better racial equality in the justice system.
Then, the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation approved a full referendum that legalized the possession and cultivation of cannabis on tribal lands. These cards are already being issued with a 57,000-acre Qualla Boundary dispensary opening up soon – being the only one with full marijuana in the state.
When Will Medical Marijuana Be Legal in North Carolina?
Let’s run the math. With decriminalization suggested by a state-issued report, public support at an all-time high, some medical marijuana already approved, and a massive dispensary opening on tribal lands, it is only a matter of moments before the floodgates are opened.
Yes, the 2024 election will be hotly contested for the Presidential and Vice-presidential seats. However, North Carolina will have open seats for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, and many other crucial roles.
With bipartisan support for medical-grade cannabis access, we are bound to see candidates running on all sides of the coin for acceptance. The public interest is so heavily weighted toward allowing, at least, medical access that both Republicans and Democrats will use this as an actionable point.
Either way, it is a win-win for the general population. That is why our team at Charlotte Marijuana Doctor is so focused on pre-registration. We are deeply rooted in the conversation of medical marijuana North Carolina laws and want to help as many of our patients as possible once this becomes a reality. When you schedule a visit, we can help streamline the process, so the moment access is granted, you’ll finally get the much-needed treatment to feel better.
Reach out today, and let’s begin the pre-registration process for your North Carolina medical marijuana card!
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