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Disclaimer: Please note that the information found on this page was independently researched by Highland Pharms. It is not presented by lawyers or other legal experts. We have made great efforts to verify the accuracy of this content, but it should never be interpreted as legal advice in any capacity. It is the sole responsibility of each reader to know their local laws. If you have further questions on these topics, please check with your local law enforcement agencies.
CBD Oil in North Carolina
You may be visiting this page on a quest for answers about CBD oil in North Carolina. Is CBD legal within the Tar Heel State?
Well, it all depends on the hemp plant. Hemp is a cannabis plant, and it is similar to marijuana—but hemp is not marijuana, and federal law now recognizes this as well.
People are often confused when it comes to the topic of hemp. In the past, people (and law enforcement agencies) were quick to mistake hemp for marijuana. The extract of either plant can be used to make CBD products. Which plant is sourced is what determines legality in NC.
Marijuana remains a tightly controlled substance under many federal, state, and local laws—hemp now relies on a different legal framework.
Most of the CBD that you might see for sale in the United States (at least in general retail environments) is made by sourcing hemp extracts, not those of the marijuana plant.
As far as legal definitions go, the one thing that separates hemp from marijuana is the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the chemical compound found in marijuana that can get a person “high” when it is consumed.
Thanks to recent changes at the federal level, cannabis plants that do not contain significant amounts of THC are no longer classified as marijuana, but as hemp. And hemp is no longer listed as a Schedule I controlled substance.
Hemp is a legal industrial crop that can be put to commercial use and sold to the general public, without need for a doctor’s prescription.
You will not find a significant amount of THC in hemp CBD, and you cannot get high from using hemp CBD.
Is CBD Oil legal in North Carolina?
Can North Carolinians use CBD oil? Is CBD oil legal to buy, possess, or consume in North Carolina?
The answer is yes. CBD oil is legal in North Carolina, so long as it comes from hemp, meaning it has less than 0.3% THC.
Each state is empowered to craft its own legal and regulatory framework when it comes to hemp. North Carolina brought its state laws into alignment with federal laws, after the passage of the 2014 and 2018 federal Farm Bills that legalized hemp.
What are the current CBD laws in North Carolina?
Sometimes to get a full picture of where things currently stand for cannabis in the eyes of the law, one needs to look back in history.
Hemp has a long history in the Carolinas, where it was once used as an industrial crop for making rope, cloth, and paper during the revolutionary era. But those days ended and by the 20th century, legal cultivation of the crop ceased.
All forms of cannabis were banned, or highly restricted when the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) came in to being in 1970.
It has only been in the last two decades that there has been real, substantive movement on the issue of cannabis freedom within the United States. Grassroots movements have campaigned for cannabis reform on several fronts including the legalization of medicinal cannabis, reduction of criminal penalties for possession of marijuana, and legalization of its recreational use.
While marijuana remains a controlled substance, North Carolina does have a medical cannabis program that permits patients to obtain medical grade products (thanks to House Bill 220).
But those wishing to use hemp CBD do not need to jump through the same hoops and they don’t need a doctor’s permission to buy or use CBD.
Passage of the 2014 and 2018 federal Farm Bills (signed into law by Presidents Obama and Trump respectively) empowered states to begin setting up their own legal and regulatory frameworks for the commercialization of industrial hemp. Incentivized by the economic potential of a new crop, most states have striven to legalize hemp for growth, sale, and consumption to and by the general public.
North Carolina can be counted among the states that made this move (though there remain legal barriers to smokable hemp).
The state first instituted an industrial hemp pilot program in 2014 and has moved in alignment with federal laws regarding hemp since that time. Ss long as users are sticking with retail hemp CBD, they are not likely to encounter any legal friction in North Carolina.
Can I purchase CBD in North Carolina?
Buying CBD in North Carolina is not difficult, and it is legal to do so. Hemp CBD specialty shops are becoming more common within the state, and CBD products can also be found for sale in general retail and convenience store environments.
Still, a lot of CBD users rely on internet retailers, and prefer to buy hemp CBD products online. There are good reasons for this.
Buying CBD online can be advantageous to those looking for better selection and better pricing. Another advantage to buying online: you can find an established, trusted source for CBD products, and you will always know exactly what you are getting.
Users of hemp CBD are all looking for a source that is reliable, safe, and trusted. By going with a well-established online provider, they can rest easy and enjoy the convenience of having products shipped directly to their home.
Highland Pharms is proud of the trust we are building with CBD users across the USA, and we appreciate the relationships we’ve already established with customers in the Carolinas. Whether your home is in Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, Asheville, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Wilmington, or anywhere in between… we can ship our legally cultivated, cleanly-made products directly to you.
We offer hemp CBD goodness in many formats including tinctures, drops, creams, lotions, capsules, vaping oils, and even gummies. And if you have pets, we’ve got treats for them too.
So, whether you call the Carolinas home, or you live elsewhere, we want you to make Highland Pharms your number one source for CBD products and encourage you to place an order with us today!
Cannabis in North Carolina – Wikipedia
Hemp in North Carolina – Wikipedia
North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (ncagr.gov)
Is CBD Oil Legal In North Carolina? NC CBD Legal Status (weedmaps.com)
Controlled Substances Act – Wikipedia
Agricultural Act of 2014 – Wikipedia
2018 United States farm bill – Wikipedia