Cannabis & hemp regulatory news and information about

North Carolina

Recreational Marijuana Status:
Decriminalized
Medical Marijuana Status:
Illegal

Seed Legality

Marijuana fully illegal; viable seeds are 'marijuana' under G.S. 90-87 (only sterilized seed is excluded). Hemp seed lawful.
Hemp seeds
Legal
Marijuana seeds
Illegal
Sale
Illegal
Transacting
Illegal
Gifting
Illegal

North Carolina has no adult-use or comprehensive medical program, and G.S. 90-87(16) defines marijuana to include the plant's seeds, excluding only sterilized seed incapable of germination — so selling, buying, or gifting viable marijuana seeds is trafficking in or possession of marijuana under G.S. 90-94/90-95. S.L. 2022-32 permanently removed hemp from the controlled substances schedules, and hemp seed and 'verified propagules for cultivation' from hemp varieties are lawful, with growers licensed directly by USDA since the state ceased running its own program. Sellers relying on the federal DEA 2022 seed interpretation face unresolved conflict with the state's genetics-based hemp-variety language.

Key law:
N.C.G.S. § 90-87(16), § 90-94; S.L. 2022-32
Last reviewed:
July 3, 2026
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This section is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Seed laws change frequently — verify current law with qualified counsel before making decisions.

North Carolina

Hemp, Cannabis, and Tobacco Regulation News