No. Due to the classification of marijuana as a Schedule VI substance under North Carolina's Controlled Substances Act, it is illegal to sell cannabis in any of the state's locations, including the Town of Chapel Hill. This means there are no cannabis dispensaries in Chapel Hill, and possession or sale of the substance can result in legal consequences ranging from fine to jail time.
No. There are no medical marijuana dispensaries operating in Chapel Hill or elsewhere in the state. This is because medical marijuana has not been legalized in North Carolina; therefore, no municipality in the state can legally permit retailers to sell it in any form.
No. You cannot buy cannabis online in Chapel Hill as cannabis storefronts and non-storefront retailers are banned in the town. Patients authorized to use low-THC cannabis in the town may be able to purchase such products from CBD stores in the town or neighboring municipalities. Some North Carolina CBD stores allow customers to purchase products online.
You cannot visit a dispensary in the town, as cannabis dispensaries are illegal.
There are no laws related to the operations of cannabis dispensaries in the Chapel Hill Code of Ordinance, as such establishments are illegal businesses in the town.
Chapel Hill observes the recreational cannabis rules of North Carolina, which stipulate that any amount of cannabis possession is illegal, despite the substance's partial decriminalization in the state. Under state law, persons caught with 0.5 ounces of marijuana or less may be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor which may attract a maximum penalty of $200. For possession of between 0.5 ounces and 1.5 ounces, the offense is regarded as a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by a $1,000 fine and a 4-month prison term. A person caught with between 1.5 ounces and 10 pounds of cannabis is guilty of a Class I felony, which may lead to a maximum fine of $1,000 and up to 8 months of imprisonment.
Medical cannabis is illegal in Chapel Hill as it is statewide in North Carolina. However, the town may soon allow certain patients to use medical marijuana to treat their conditions if the pending Compassionate Care Act (CCA) in the North Carolina State House is passed into law. The CCA lists specific conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, cancer, and chronic pain, as ailments that may be treated with cannabis. However, patients would be required to obtain medical cannabis recommendations from North Carolina-licensed physicians before they may use medical marijuana legally.
Currently, the town allows residents to use low-THC products in accordance with the North Carolina Epilepsy Alternative Treatment Act. However, only patients who have been certified to have intractable epilepsy are allowed to use low-THC products for treating their conditions. Per HB 766, low-THC products must have at least 5% cannabidiol but no more than 0.9% THC.
The low-THC program in Chapel Hill is overseen by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The program is open to minors and adults as long as they have obtained a certification from a North Carolina neurologist affirming their conditions can be better treated or managed with low-THC cannabis.
Under the North Carolina low-THC program, patients can only access medical cannabis through designated caregivers. No patient may be certified by a neurologist without having assigned a caregiver to administer medical cannabis on their behalf. Specifically, minors must get the consent of their parents, approved guardians, or authorized individuals acting as their primary caregivers before being issued low-THC cannabis recommendations. Caregivers are required to be residents of North Carolina, be at least aged 18, and be authorized by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Note that it is illegal to cultivate cannabis under the North Carolina Epilepsy Alternative Treatment Act; stringent penalties await persons caught growing cannabis.
You cannot obtain a medical marijuana card in Chapel Hill, as the State of North Carolina does not issue medical marijuana identification cards. Note that the state does not run a full-fledged medical cannabis program as other states do due to the illegal status of cannabis in North Carolina.
Under the restricted program, patients are only required to get certifications from state-licensed neurologists to legally access low-THC cannabis. Before a neurologist may issue a low-THC cannabis use recommendation to a patient, the patient must designate a caregiver to access low-THC cannabis for the individual. Note that the neurologist must be affiliated with the neurology department of one or more of the following institutions:
The University of North Carolina
East Carolina University
Duke University
Wake Forest University
After getting a low-THC cannabis use recommendation, the caregiver may purchase low-THC cannabis for a patient.
Due to its classification as a Schedule VI controlled substance under state regulations, the Town of Chapel Hill prohibits the public or private consumption or use of marijuana in any form, regardless of whether it is for medical or recreational purposes. Individuals who have been authorized to use low-THC cannabis products are advised to limit their use to their private residences.
Cannabis sale is prohibited everywhere in the town owing to the status of the drug as an illegal substance in North Carolina. Therefore, there are no approved cannabis dispensaries in the town.
There are no established prices for cannabis in Chapel Hill, as the substance is illegal there.
Cannabis strains are not sold in Chapel Hill as they are illegal in the town.
Owing to the illegal status of cannabis in Chapel Hill, smoking it in public is an offense.
Possessing any amount of cannabis is illegal in Chapel Hill. However, patients with intractable epilepsy who have obtained certification from state-licensed neurologists and have appointed approved caregivers may legally possess and use low-THC cannabis products as part of the state's medical CBD program. Under state law, no specific quantity limit was set for qualified patients.
Cannabis’ federal status as a controlled drug makes its transportation across state lines into Chapel Hill. Also, due to North Carolina’s categorization of the substance as a banned drug, possessing or moving it within the state is prohibited.
Chapel Hill has not legalized cannabis. Hence, ordering the substance online is illegal.
There are no dispensaries in the Town of Chapel Hill.
Dispensaries are banned in the town.
There are no cannabis dispensaries in the town.
Dispensaries do not exist in the town.
Chapel Hill bans the operation of cannabis dispensaries.
There are no cannabis dispensaries in Chapel Hill.
Cannabis dispensaries are not allowed in Chapel Hill.
Cannabis retailers are banned in the town.
There are no marijuana dispensaries in Chapel Hill.
There are no dispensaries in the town.
Chapel Hill does not permit dispensaries to open in the town.
Cannabis is unregulated in the Town of Chapel Hill due to its illegal status there. However, the low-THC program operated in the town is supervised by the state Department of Health and Human Services. You may contact the DHHS using the following information:
Mailing Address
2001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2000
Physical Address
101 Blair Drive
Raleigh, NC 27603
You can report illegal cannabis activities in Chapel Hill to the Chapel Hill Police Department by calling the PD at (919) 968-2760. Also, you may file a report to the Town of Chapel Hill using the PD's online complaint tool.