How To Get a Medical Marijuana Card in North Carolina

What is an MMJ Card in North Carolina?

A medical marijuana card is a state-issued identification card that allows the holder to purchase medical cannabis for therapeutic purposes. Buying and possessing marijuana is illegal federally and also in the State of North Carolina. Therefore, North Carolina does not issue medical marijuana cards.

However, medical cannabis is legal in a small area of North Carolina occupied by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. As a sovereign nation, the Cherokee make and enforce their own laws on their lands. In 2021, the Tribal Council voted to legalize medical marijuana and in 2023 started accepting applications for medical marijuana cards from members of the tribe and other North Carolina residents wishing to participate in its medical marijuana program.

Who Can Apply for an MMJ Card in North Carolina?

As of 2024, the State of North Carolina does not accept applications for medical marijuana cards, as marijuana use is illegal. However, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in the state have their own medical marijuana program and are accepting applications for MMJ cards. To receive a medical cannabis patient card under this program, you must be:

• 21 years or older
• A resident of North Carolina
• Diagnosed with one or more of the 18 debilitating conditions currently recognized for medical cannabis intervention

Can a Minor Obtain a Medical Marijuana Card in North Carolina?

No, minors cannot obtain medical marijuana cards in North Carolina as the state does not currently allow anyone to purchase or use cannabis for medical or recreational purposes. Similarly, the medical cannabis program instituted by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians living in North Carolina does not offer medical marijuana cards to minors, or indeed anyone under the age of 21.

What Conditions Qualify for Medical Marijuana Cards in North Carolina in 2024?

As North Carolina has not legalized medical marijuana, there are no conditions that qualify a person to apply for medical marijuana cards. However, the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) overseeing the medical cannabis program of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina recognize the following physical and mental health conditions for medical cannabis treatment:

• Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
• An anxiety disorder
• An autism spectrum disorder
• An autoimmune disorder
• Anorexia nervosa
• Cancer
• Dependence upon or addiction to opioids
• Glaucoma
• A medical condition related to HIV
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Crohn’s disease
• Sickle cell anemia
• Amyotrophic lateral syndrome
• Parkinson’s disease
• A condition resulting in the patient receiving hospice care
• A terminal illness when the patient’s remaining life expectancy is less than six months
• A medical condition or treatment for a medical condition that produces, for a specific patient, one or more of the following:
  • Cachexia
  • Muscle spasms, including, without limitation, spasms caused by multiple sclerosis
  • Seizures, including, without limitation, seizures caused by epilepsy
  • Nausea
  • Severe or chronic pain

How Do I Apply for an MMJ Card in North Carolina in 2024?

You cannot apply for a state-issued medical marijuana card in North Carolina, as medical marijuana is illegal in the state. However, as a North Carolina resident, you can apply for the medical marijuana card issued by the medical cannabis program run by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in the state. To apply for a medical cannabis card from the CCB, you will need to obtain written documentation from your medical provider that you were diagnosed with one or more of the 18 qualifying conditions recognized for medical cannabis treatment. The CCB requires a completed Doctor’s Attestation signed by your medical provider or a Medical Summary provided by your healthcare provider.

Each applicant must also complete a Patient Card Application and attach a government-issued ID confirming that they reside in North Carolina. Prospective caregivers need to complete the Designated Primary Caregiver Application and include copies of their Power of Attorney documents.

Submit these documents and your application in person to the EBCI Cannabis Control Board located at 620 Casino Trail, Whittier NC 28789 or send it by mail to P.O. Box 549, Cherokee NC 28719. Alternatively, you can submit your application and supporting documents by email.

How Does a Primary Caregiver Get a North Carolina MMIC?

North Carolina does not have a medical marijuana program and does not issue medical marijuana cards to patients or caregivers. However, the medical cannabis program run by the CCB of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in the state makes provision for designated caregivers and issues them medical cannabis cards. To get one, you must be designated as a caregiver by a patient registered in this program. Then you can send a Designated Primary Caregiver Application to the Cannabis Control Board to get a medical cannabis card.

How long does it take to get a North Carolina MMIC?

Medical marijuana is currently illegal in North Carolina. Therefore, there is no stipulated waiting period for state-issued medical marijuana cards. There is no specified wait period for the medical cannabis card issued under the medical marijuana program of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Getting a North Carolina Medical Marijuana Card Online

North Carolina does not currently issue medical cannabis cards, as cannabis use is illegal. The Cannabis Control Board of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in the state currently does not accept online applications for its medical cannabis card.

How Much Does a Medical Marijuana Card Cost in North Carolina?

While North Carolina does not currently issue medical marijuana cards, the CCB of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians do. The Board charges members of the tribe $50 for their first card while other North Carolina residents pay $100. The annual renewal fees are $25 and $100 for tribe members and other North Carolinians respectively.

What Documents Do I Need to Apply for a Medical Cannabis Card in North Carolina?

Currently, you cannot apply for a medical cannabis card in North Carolina as marijuana is illegal. However, when applying for a medical cannabis card from the medical marijuana program run by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, you must provide the following documents:

• A signed Doctor’s Attestation or your Medical Summary
• Power of Attorney (for designated caregiver)
• Proof of residency in North Carolina

Are My Details Kept Confidential When I Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card in North Carolina?

North Carolina residents cannot apply for state-issued medical marijuana cards, as marijuana is illegal in the state. However, most states that have legalized medical cannabis keep applicant details confidential under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Details provided to the CCB when registering for the EBCI medical marijuana program also enjoy this protection.

What Information Appears On A North Carolina Medical Marijuana Card?

North Carolina does not issue medical marijuana cards, but the EBCI has a medical marijuana program that issues registration cards. Like medical marijuana cards in states where medical cannabis is legal, this card is likely to provide the following information:

• The cardholder's unique identification number
• The cardholder's photograph
• The identification card's issuance and expiry date
• "Patient" or "Primary Caregiver" to designate the cardholder's status