North Carolina Medical CBD / Low-THC Law

(Updated 2025)

1. 1. Introduction

North Carolina does not operate a traditional medical marijuana program. Instead, the state allows very limited access to low-THC hemp extract for patients with intractable epilepsy under the Epilepsy Alternative Treatment Act of 2014.

This program was designed specifically for patients who have not responded to conventional treatment. It does not provide for full cannabis use, medical marijuana cards, or legal in-state dispensaries. Patients and caregivers are left to source compliant products from outside North Carolina, which may pose federal legal risks if transported across state lines.

1. 2. Quick Facts – North Carolina CBD Program

1. 3. Qualifying Conditions

The only qualifying condition under the Epilepsy Alternative Treatment Act is:

• • Intractable epilepsy — seizures not adequately controlled by traditional treatments

Patients must be under the care of a neurologist affiliated with a state university medical school.

1. 4. Patient Possession Rules

• • Hemp extract must contain:
    • Less than 0.9% THC by weight
    • At least 5% CBD by weight
  • There is no stated maximum quantity, but products must meet the THC/CBD ratio requirement to be legal.

1. 5. Legal Protections & Limitations

• • The law offers limited legal protection—it does not legalize cannabis, but it shields eligible patients from prosecution for possessing qualifying CBD oil.
  • No legal in-state production or retail system exists.
  • Patients must obtain hemp extract from sources outside North Carolina, creating potential transportation and compliance risks.

1. 6. Home Cultivation

• • Not permitted under any circumstances.

1. 7. Licensed Dispensaries

• • None — the law does not authorize in-state sales or production.

1. 8. Caregivers

• • No caregiver program exists under current law.

1. 9. Reciprocity

• • North Carolina does not recognize medical cannabis or CBD registrations from other states.

1. 10. Program Overview

• • Law Signed: 2014 (Epilepsy Alternative Treatment Act)
  • Regulatory Authority: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
  • Estimated Registered Patients: No public registry or formal count exists.

1. 11. Key Considerations for Patients

• • The North Carolina program is extremely restrictive compared to other states.
  • Only patients with intractable epilepsy qualify, and they must obtain CBD oil that meets the strict chemical profile.
  • The lack of an in-state production system makes patient access challenging.

1. 12. Resources & References

• • NC DHHS – Epilepsy Alternative Treatment Act: Official Site
  • NORML – North Carolina: norml.org/laws/north-carolina