Is CBD Oil Legal in North Carolina?

North Carolinians are loving CBD oil — but they also have questions. 

Questions like:

Is CBD legal in NC?

Is CBD oil legal in NC?

What are North Carolina’s hemp laws?

If you’re looking for answers, you’re in the right place. Keep reading to learn more about CBD’s legality in North Carolina. 

• CBD in NC
• Is CBD legal in NC?
• Cannabidiol oil: legal in North Carolina?
• North Carolina CBD laws
• How to find premium CBD in North Carolina
• How to order CBD online in North Carolina
• CBD products in North Carolina

CBD NC: some background info

CBD has gotten pretty popular in North Carolina. In the year 2021, you can find CBD products of all shapes and sizes all throughout the state, including:

• CBD oils
• CBD tinctures
• CBD vape pens
• CBD transdermals
• CBD capsules
• CBD topicals
• CBD edibles

The CBD industry has come pretty far since 2014, when CBD was first introduced onto the scene. North Carolinians who are over the age of 18 can buy CBD online or locally — no prescription or ‘green card’ needed. 

But what exactly’s changed since 2014? What’s made CBD so popular? Here’s a closer look. 

Is CBD legal in NC?

In 2014 the US federal government passed a new Farm Bill. That in and of itself wasn’t unique — Farm Bills are passed every four years — but this bill was a little different. It enabled each state to begin pilot programs and grow/study/analyze the hemp plant. This is around the same time when retail CBD sales started. 

Another upgrade came in 2018, when the next Farm Bill was passed. This bill legalized hemp production...including the production of hemp-derived CBD products. As long as hemp products contained less than 0.3% THC, they were now legal! North Carolinian legislators followed suit and passed a similar bill of their own:

“Hemp production has been legalized in North Carolina, but only as part of the state's pilot program as allowed under federal law. The N.C. General Assembly passed Senate Bill 313 in 2015, allowing the Industrial Hemp Commission to develop the rules and licensing structure necessary to stay within federal laws.” [1]

And CBD’s popularity has only increased since then. Today North Caroliniansorder CBD products at local health food stores, grocery chains, and even gas stations (don’t worry, we’ll address where to find premium CBD later). 

Is CBD oil legal in NC?

Let’s start with the good news: CBD oil, or cannabidiol oil, is 100% legal in the state of NC. 

But there are still regulatory standards that any legal CBD oil has to meet:

• Must be under 0.3% THC 
• Must be under 0.3% THCa 
• Must be tested by third-party labs
• Must be linked to scannable QR codes 

North Carolina CBD laws

Let’s take a look at several specifics next, including:

• NC CBD sales laws
• NC online CBD laws
• MC marijuana laws
• NC hemp flower laws
• NC hemp farming laws
• NC CBD laws for employees

North Carolina CBD sales laws 

NC CBD Sales are mostly unrestricted. You don’t need a license to sell CBD to family or friends. 

NC residents, however, may need licensing if they wish to sell CBD edibles. That’s because these products fall under FDA oversight. 

CBD is also freely sold in bars, cafes, health food shops, and other locals. To put things super simply, CBD products are easy to find in NC! Finding high-quality CBD however, may be a little less simple. (More on how to find premium CBD later.)

North Carolina online CBD laws

North Carolina residents also have access to CBD products online. Any resident over the age of 18 can legally buy CBD from online CBD shops. 

Is weed legal in NC?

Cannabis is illegal in North Carolina — very illegal. The penalties for cannabis use and possession are steep, and the penalties for cannabis sales are even harsher. 

According to NORML, the penalties for cannabis use are as follows:

Cannabis possession with intent to distribute

10-50 lbs Felony 25-39 months imprisonment

50-2,000 lbs Felony 35-51 months imprisonment

2000 -10,000 lbs Felony 70-93 months imprisonment

10,000 lbs or more Felony 175-222 months imprisonment

Cannabis Sale or Delivery

10 lbs Felony 4-8 months imprisonment

10-50 lbs Felony 25-39 months imprisonment

50-2,000 lbs Felony 35-51 months imprisonment

2,000-10,000 lbs Felony` 70-93 months imprisonment

10,000 lbs or more Felony 175-222 months imprisonment

To minors or pregnant women Felony 3-8 years imprisonment

Within 1000 feet of school Felony 1-3 years imprisonment

Why are these penalties so harsh? In a sense, NC’s cannabis laws are in line with the Federal Government’s classification of marijuana as a Schedule 1 substance. According to this classification cannabis is on par with heroin, LSD, shrooms, and ecstasy:

• Highly addictive
• Likely to be abused
• Without accepted medical properties 
• Unable to treat negative health conditions
• Unable to be safely used under professional medical supervision.

As bad as all this may seem, keep in mind that the government’s views of cannabis are not rooted in modern science! Studies have repeatedly shown that even high-THC cannabis possesses health benefits without being especially addicting. 

Is medical weed legal in North Carolina?

While North Carolina does have a medical marijuana program, the program’s qualifying conditions make it somewhat hard to get into. Let’s take a closer look at this program’s ins and outs.

NC’s medical cannabis program got started in 2014 with the passing of the Hope 4 Haley and Friends Act. [2] This Act provides medical-grade CBD to patients with epilepsy and a select few other conditions. 

Then, in 2016, NC’s Governor introduced the North Carolina Epilepsy Alternative Treatment Act. This newer act provides slightly higher THC products to its patients. 

Despite these small moments of progress, North Carolinians still don’t have access to premium cannabis dispensaries. Many state residents are resorting to purchasing their medicinal products from out of state. 

North Carolina hemp flower laws

North Carolina and hemp flower have a somewhat troubled history. After being legalized in 2018, the state banned hemp flower in 2019. Why? Because law enforcement couldn’t distinguish between hemp flower and high-THC cannabis flower. 

“My philosophy right now is, we are actually legalizing recreational marijuana if we don’t listen to our law enforcement and do something about this,” North Carolina state Rep. Pat McElraft explained to North Carolina Health News. [3]

But this ban was met with resistance from local hemp companies. “If the North Carolina legislature wants to waste its time attempting to ban a smokable hemp, okay,” hemp businessman Bob Crumley said. “It’s not going to survive a court challenge.”

Thankfully, Crumley was right. NC’s ban on hemp flower has since been reversed, and now residents are once again free to enjoy hemp flower with impunity. 

North Carolina hemp farming laws

2018’s Federal Farm Bill didn’t just legalize hemp products. It also legalized industrial hemp farming! 

North Carolinian industrial hemp farmers have been quick to try out hemp as a way to increase their profitability. 

But NC hemp farming hasn’t been all smooth sailing. "Hemp matures at the same time you have hurricanes,” farmer and business owner Justin Hamilton tells  StarNews Online. “You essentially have plants that are really heavy and full of flower material. When they're out there in that wind they completely lay down on the ground and bend and break."  [4]

Hemp Farming Coordinator Mark Blevins agrees. He “recommends [that] farmers who want to grow hemp enter the industry with their ‘eyes wide open”’ to all of the challenges they might face:

‘There’s not this flood down here of people who are really getting into it because it’s being super successful. They’re getting into it to try it, to work out the kinks.’”

Is CBD legal for employees in NC?

Yes —  CBD oil is fully legal for workers throughout the state to consume!

The only potential legal concern for workers?  False-positive drug test results. Initial ‘point of care’ drug tests can sometimes mistake CBD for THC.

A few years back a 54-year-old NC woman tested positive for THC after taking CBD products. Her former employer argued that THC is illegal, which justified her being fired...but NC judges weren’t convinced:

“The court finds that hemp-based CBD oil made from Cannabis Sativa L. containing less than 0.3% THC by dry weight is not an illegal drug but a lawful commercial product,” an NC judge wrote in her ruling. “Therefore, plaintiff has alleged that she was she was using a lawful product and that her use of that product was lawful.” [5] 

How to find premium CBD Oil in North Carolina

Okay, we’ve gone over CBD’s legality in NC. So let’s now look over how you can find CBD within the state!

Where to find CBD locally

We’ve got good news for all you North Carolinians reading this: you can probably find high-quality CBD within 20 miles of your home. Any of the following businesses may carry CBD products: 

• Health food/natural food stores
• Grocery store chains
• Convenience stores
• CBD-specific stores
• Gas stations

Just because you can buy CBD from gas stations, however, doesn’t mean you should. We’d encourage you to source your CBD from health food stores or shop online! 

How to determine if your CBD oil is premium

Now that you know where to find CBD oil and other products...how do you determine whether or not a CBD product is high quality?

Here are some standards to keep in mind. Any CBD oil should:

• Be grown from US industrial hemp
• Be third-party lab tested
• Contain a shelf-stable carrier oil
• Be extracted with CO2 or another type ‘clean’ solvent

There are more specialized metrics to consider, too. These metrics depend on what you’re taking CBD for. 

• If you’re taking CBD for mood, consider a lower-strength product
• If you’re taking CBD for sleep, consider a higher-strength product
• If you’re looking for maximum strength, opt for a full-spectrum CBD product
• If you’re looking for something simple, opt for a CBD isolate product

Determining which type of CBD oil works best for you may take some trial and error. Feel free to learn from the experience of family, friends, and pro-CBD medical professionals as you find out what works best for you. And don’t rush things — this whole process can be thought of as a personal journey!

CBD oil: the question of cultivars

Another factor to keep in mind when selecting the right CBD oil: what type of hemp does it come from?

This is important — different types of industrial hemp flower have different effects Some cultivars are wakeful, while other cultivars uplift and inspire creativity. Finding the right variety for you depends on what type of effects you’re looking for. 

At Black Tie CBD we probably have the perfect strain for you, as we’ve been growing a wide variety of unique industrial hemp cultivars since 2014! 

How to order CBD online in North Carolina

Next up let’s take a look at other types of CBD products available to North Carolinians who shop for CBD online. 

CBD products in North Carolina

Black Tie’s online CBD shop features all sorts of CBD products, including premium CBD oils and tinctures:

• CBD oils
• CBD tinctures
• CBD smokeables
• CBG smokeables
• CBD vape cartridges
• CBG vape cartridges
• CBD concentrates
• CBD isolate
• CBD capsules/pills
• CBD edibles

NC CBD smokeables 

The most tried-and-true way to take CBD isn’t actually via CBD oils or vapes.

It’s true: the oldest way to consume cannabis is by combusting and then inhaling it. 

At Black Tie CBD we make all sorts of smokables CBD products. Our high-CBD hemp cultivars have won several awards for their purity and power. 

NC CBG smokeables 

Among our many industrial hemp cultivars are several strains that are high in both CBD and CBG. For those unfamiliar, CBG is the ‘mother’ cannabinoid that CBD and other compounds are eventually producd from. But CBD has several pro-health properties of its own. Research shows that it may be especially antibacterial, making it great for those who want to naturally improve their gut health. 

CBD in NC: Summing things up

CBD oil is fully legal in North Carolina. Residents over age 18 can possess, consume, and benefit from CBD without facing any legal repercussions. What’s stopping you from trying CBD oil today?

FAQ

Where can I buy CBD in NC? 

The best place to buy CBD oil in NC is CBD Oil Store. CBD store has CBD-infused products like CBD gummies, CBD vape oils, CBD edibles, and more. Black Tie CBD is a friendly online CBD Store offering CBD Oils in all types of flavors and concentrations. Shop now!

Is CBD legal in NC?

Yes, CBD is legal in NC! CBD oil is legal in all fifty states, however, CBD Oil stores are not. CBD Oils are CBD-infused oils, creams, edibles, and many other products. CBD store can be difficult to find since it is only sold privately (not at CBD retail stores). But it’s easy to find online CBD Store Black Tie CBD! Shop now!

Where to buy CBD Gummies in NC? 

CBD gummies are CBD-infused candies that come in all shapes and colors. CBD edibles are CBD-infused foods, snacks, treats, or drinks, which you can easily buy in NC. CBD oil can be taken orally in many forms like CBD vape juice, CBD capsules, CBD tinctures, and CBD topicals (CBD lotion). You can also buy them online at Black Tie CBD Store!

What form of CBD in NC is most effective? 

It depends on what effect you want to have. CBD vape and CBD tinctures are the most popular CBD products. CBD vape oil is an aerosolized CBD that can be inhaled through a CBD vape pen, e-cig, e-cigarette or vaporizer. Vaping CBD has become very popular because it is fast-acting and easy to use anywhere. Try to order different forms of CBD online to NC in the online store Black Tie CBD!