North Carolina Marijuana Laws and Medicinal Weed Use

If you are a medical marijuana patient, you may be wondering what the North Carolina laws are. These laws are intended to protect patients, while still treating possession of cannabis as a controlled substance. Three in four people support medical marijuana, and several pieces of decriminalization legislation have been introduced in recent months.

While these proposals face a tough uphill battle in the GOP-controlled legislature, there is growing pressure to decriminalize marijuana.

North Carolina Marijuana Laws

A recent bill introduced in North Carolina aims to make marijuana legal for debilitating medical conditions. Under the bill, a doctor can prescribe marijuana for a patient with cancer or epilepsy who cannot take painkillers or other medications. It also puts limits on the hours when marijuana may be sold, as well as the distance medical cannabis centers can be located from schools. Additionally, only four suppliers are allowed to operate medical marijuana centers.

Under the current version of the medical marijuana bill, patients can use cannabis oil for certain conditions. This includes nausea and vomiting related to pregnancy, epilepsy, cyclical vomiting syndrome, and HIV/AIDS. It is also used to treat PTSD. However, it’s worth noting that marijuana is not yet legal for other purposes, such as hospice care. However, patients with certain medical conditions can still legally use the drug for a variety of other reasons.

North Carolina Dispensary Information

While some former criminals may qualify for a license to use medical marijuana, most cannot. However, some people may qualify if they are at least five years past the end of their criminal sentences. Additionally, these people must have never sold, possessed, or traded illegal drugs. A dispensary must also destroy cannabis that is not sold to a qualifying patient. It’s essential to note that North Carolina has no legal limit on the number of licenses it can issue.

While many people oppose recreational marijuana use, some have supported it, including two powerful Republican senators. Bill Nickel, a New Hanover County resident, has argued in favor of the bill. In fact, he said he has a father who died of cancer and used marijuana illegally to ease his pain. Although this bill has bipartisan support, opponents say it could harm children and should be narrowly crafted.

How to Get a Medicinal Marijuana Card in NC

If you’re wondering how to get a medical marijuana card in North Carolina, then keep reading! The first step to getting a medical marijuana card is finding a doctor who will recommend the medication. Not every doctor will do so, though. To qualify, patients must have a qualifying medical condition. Each state has its own list of qualifying conditions. After being approved, patients can get a medical marijuana ID card, which allows them to purchase the plant at a licensed dispensary.

The Epilepsy Alternative Treatment Act, signed by Gov. Pat McCrory in 2014, allowed patients suffering from epilepsy access to low-THC hemp extract. HB 766, passed in July 2015, amended the Epilepsy Alternative Treatment Act to increase the allowed THC from 0.3% to 0.9% and reduce the minimum amount of CBD from 10% to 5%. Additionally, the law expanded the list of qualified physicians and certified hospitals for medical marijuana dispensaries. Another major change in the law is the removal of the requirement that patients be under the age of 18.

North Carolina Marijuana Laws and Penalties

If you have ever been arrested for possession of marijuana in North Carolina, you should understand your rights. Although marijuana is classified as a Schedule 6 drug in North Carolina, possession can still result in criminal charges and hefty fines. Possession of marijuana can also keep you from getting a good job, renting an apartment, or even buying a new home, because potential employers and mortgage lenders will run background checks on applicants.

In North Carolina, possession of less than 0.5 oz. is a misdemeanor, while possession of five or more oz. is a felony. If you’re arrested for possession of cannabis, you’ll probably end up in jail for one to five months or more. Possession of marijuana in a prison or local confinement facility is a class H felony, which carries a fine between $600 and $10,000.

NC Marijuana Summary

Fortunately, NC law makers are finally starting to pay attention to this budding industry. In addition to introducing medical marijuana laws, lawmakers have also begun to take steps toward legalizing the substance. The latest steps will be taken in the Senate Committee on Finance, where the bill will have to pass several times before it reaches the floor. Read on for some of the highlights. Let’s explore what’s next.

First, NC lawmakers are debating whether to decriminalize medical marijuana. One bill that has bipartisan support is called the Compassionate Care Act. This bill would allow doctors to prescribe the drug to patients who suffer from debilitating illnesses. The conditions that qualify for the card include cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, and epilepsy. Patients would also be allowed to get the drug in the event of an upcoming end-of-life hospitalization.