MEDICAL CANNABIS PATIENTS & CAREGIVERS
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North Carolina remains without any medical cannabis program, leaving patients with no safe or legal access to cannabis or cannabis products. |
Americans for Safe Access supports the right of all patients to access medical cannabis. North Carolina residents who wish to advocate for a medical cannabis program in their state can learn how to get involved with Americans for Safe Access.
Cannabis Product Safety:
Cannabis, in its natural form, is inherently safe for most patients, but it is especially susceptible to contaminants during cultivation, manufacturing, handling & even storing. Whether you are purchasing cannabis from regulated, grey, or illicit markets or cultivating your own cannabis, you should be aware of the contaminants commonly found in cannabis and the symptoms that accompany their presence.
For more information about cannabis safety, download ASA's "What’s in Your Cannabis? A Patient & Consumer Guide to Navigating Cannabis Safety."
FEDERAL LAW & PATIENT PROTECTIONS
*UPDATE: AG ORDER NO. 6754-2026 CHANGED FEDERAL CANNABIS LAWS ON APRIL 28, 2026: Learn more here.
Federal cannabis laws affect far more than whether a patient can access medical cannabis. For decades, federal prohibition has limited protections for medical cannabis patients under laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). As a result, patients have often been denied the basic protections that people with other serious health conditions expect in employment, housing, healthcare, and access to federal programs.
Federal prohibition has also affected patients’ access to essential healthcare, housing, and financial support programs, sometimes forcing patients to choose between the medicine they need and the benefits they depend on. It has also created barriers to federal employment, healthcare autonomy, firearm ownership, and other aspects of daily life.
As federal and state cannabis laws change, implementation matters. Advocates must stay vigilant to ensure public agencies, private institutions, employers, housing providers, and healthcare systems update their policies in ways that respect patient rights and protect safe, legal access to medical cannabis.
It is important to stay active, engaged, and informed. Sign up to get ASA updates and learn more about ending patient discrimination.
Rights and protections for medical cannabis patients are evolving. In some cases, outdated policies may impact how patients are treated. In other cases, like those in the military, policy changes will have to come from Washington, DC. In the case of organ transplants, stigma still plays a role in medical cannabis patients having access to life-saving treatment, even if state laws ban discrimination. Please use the resources below to better understand patient rights and how to navigate these programs and services.
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
- HIV/AIDS
- ALS
- Crohn’s disease
- Sickle cell anemia
- Parkinson’s disease
- PTSD
- Multiple sclerosis
- Cachexia (Wasting Syndrome)
- Severe or persistent nausea (for hospice patients or the bed-bound)
The application process as a minor is the same for an adult.
Patients under 18 years old must have parental consent, a current diagnosis of a qualifying medical condition, an official written certification from their physician, be a North Carolina resident with a valid driver's license or state ID card.
If you are arrested for the possession of CBD oil, you will have an affirmative defense in court.
To become a caregiver in North Carolina, simply fill out the application from the DHHS website.
Out-of-State patient registrations are not recognized in the state of North Carolina. For more information about traveling as a medical cannabis patient, check out our Travel Guide.
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