North Carolina

Is marijuana legal in North Carolina? Cherokee? What to know on 420

Published

11 months ago

April 19, 2025

Press Room

Is marijuana legal in North Carolina? Cherokee? What to know on 420

Marijuana is decriminalized, but not legal, in North Carolina.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians legalized marijuana on tribal land and opened a dispensary in 2014.

It’s been a year since the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians opened a cannabis dispensary on tribal land.

With April 20 rolling in again, here’s what to know about the 420 “holiday” celebrating marijuana, the Great Smoky Cannabis Co., marijuana’s legal status in North Carolina and more.

Is weed legal in North Carolina?

Marijuana is not legal in N.C. It is decriminalized, however, meaning possession of small amounts intended for personal use rather than illegal sales will generally mean punishments of civil or local infractions rather than state crimes.

Industrial hemp – marijuana with no THC – is legal in NC. Additionally, a popular loophole in hemp legislation has made it possible to get legally stoned. It is illegal to grow cannabis plants with more than a 0.3% concentration of delta-9 THC. Delta-8 THC, however, is not mentioned in the legislation.

Delta-8 is one of over 100 cannabinoids produced by cannabis plants, and while it is usually not found in high amounts, many N.C. hemp businesses have begun extracting the compound from plants or converting other compounds like CBD into delta-8. If you’ve seen weed sold at gas stations, tobacco stores or anywhere else, it’s likely psychoactive “delta-8” or a similar compound.

It’s worth mentioning that, while delta-8 causes a “high,” the FDA has not evaluated or approved it as safe for consumption, meaning that delta-8 products are not regulated by the FDA and could therefore be harmful to your health.

Is marijuana legal in Cherokee, NC?

The EBCI voted in 2021 to legalize the sale of medical marijuana within its tribal territory known as the Qualla Boundary. Cherokee is a sovereign nation that has its own elections, laws, government and institutions that are self-governed and autonomous. That’s why it can make legal the sale of marijuana despite being within North Carolina.

The Great Smoky Cannabis Co. opened on April 20, 2014 and was the EBCI’s first dispensary. At first, it sold cannabis products to people with a medical marijuana card. It later branched out to recreation marijuana, and now visitors 21 and older can shop there.

Note that it remains illegal to take marijuana off the Qualla Boundary.

What does 420 mean?

There are plenty of stories out there about exactly why the number 420 (and date April 20) are associated with marijuana. While there’s no definitive answer to its original significance, one of the most popular theories ties the number and date to a group of Californian teenagers.

According to the lore, a group of high schoolers attending Northern California’s San Rafael High School in the early 1970s would regularly gather at 4:20 p.m. to smoke pot.

April 20 is regarded by many cannabis enthusiasts as not only a day to appreciate the plant, but a rallying date for the nationwide legalization of marijuana.

What states was marijuana legal as of 2024?

Here’s a list of states that have legalized recreational cannabis, plus the years that they each made it legal.

Ohio: 2023
Minnesota: 2023
Delaware: 2023
Rhode Island: 2022
Maryland: 2022
Missouri: 2022
Connecticut: 2021
New Mexico: 2021
New York: 2021
Virginia: 2021
Arizona: 2020
Montana: 2020
New Jersey: 2020
Vermont: 2020
Illinois: 2019
Michigan: 2018
California: 2016
Maine: 2016
Massachusetts: 2016
Nevada: 2016
District of Columbia: 2014
Alaska: 2014
Oregon: 2014
Colorado: 2012
Washington: 2012

Additionally, the following states have legalized medical marijuana:

Mississippi: 2022
Alabama: 2021
South Dakota: 2020
Missouri: 2018
Oklahoma: 2018
Utah: 2018
Iowa: 2017
West Virginia: 2017
Arkansas: 2016
Florida: 2016
North Dakota: 2016
Ohio: 2016
Pennsylvania: 2016
Georgia: 2015
Louisiana: 2015
Minnesota: 2014
Maryland: 2013
New Hampshire: 2013
Delaware: 2011
Rhode Island: 2006
Hawaii: 2000

Contributing: Orlando Mayorquin and Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.

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North Carolina

NC to receive nearly $70M in FEMA funds, Madsion County manager says $14M hasn’t arrived

Published

3 hours ago

March 6, 2026

Press Room

NC to receive nearly M in FEMA funds, Madsion County manager says M hasn’t arrived

MADISON COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Senator Tedd Budd’s office announced nearly $70 million in public assistance FEMA funds for Helene recovery toward the North Carolina Department of Transportation, cities and counties.

Madison County Manager Rod Honeycutt created a color-coded spreadsheet of projects, both paid and unpaid. Honeycutt said he sends the spreadsheet to federal leaders’ offices, including Budd’s, regularly to ensure staff are aware of what’s not reimbursed.

Honeycutt estimates about $14 million in reimbursements from FEMA haven’t come through.

As for the $1.9 million just approved for Madison County’s emergency protective measures, including laborers, equipment reimbursement, Honeycutt said the county doesn’t have it yet.

NORTH CAROLINA TO RECEIVE $70M IN ADDITIONAL FEMA FUNDING AS NOEM FACES CRITICISM

“It’s coming back to our fund balance,” said Honeycutt. “And we know it will take six more weeks for it to get through the state and to the county.”

Honeycutt estimates that within six months, FEMA will resolve all reimbursements. He said debris removal jobs along the French Broad River have been delayed as FEMA continues to review the applications.

MARCH 5, 2026 – Madison County Manager Rod Honeycutt created a color-coded spreadsheet of projects, both paid and unpaid. Honeycutt said he sends the spreadsheet to federal leaders’ offices, including Budd’s, regularly to ensure staff are aware of what’s not reimbursed. (Photo credit: WLOS Staff)

In Marshall, the town has leased store spaces on Main Street, along with signs advertising leasing available. But longtime resident, artist and business owner Josh Copus is optimistic that Marshall and its community will thrive once again. He acknowledged that FEMA funds and reimbursements to clean up have been an important part of the area’s recovery.

MORE THAN $3.5M HEADED TO BURKE COUNTY FOR CONTINUED HELENE RECOVERY

“I would say our town is 50% fixed and our town was 100% destroyed, so 50% is pretty good,” Copus said.

The awards include:

Biltmore Forest: $2.5 million for debris removal reimbursement.
Buncombe County Sewage District: $1.57 million reimbursement for line repairs, vacuuming, line replacements and riverbank restoration.
Old Fort: $1.15 million Westerman Street Waterline for potable water reimbursement.
Mitchell County: $11.9 million for debris contractors, tipping fees and debris monitoring reimbursement.
Buncombe County: $3.5 million toward labor costs for 836 laborers during and after Helene reimbursement.
Asheville: $5.6 million for North Fork Treatment Plant repairs reimbursement.
Lake Lure: $1.48 million for lake safety repairs reimbursement.
Madison County: $1.9 million for emergency protective measures, including laborers, equipment reimbursement.

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North Carolina

2026 primary turnout report released for eastern NC counties; see your county’s numbers

Published

1 day ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

2026 primary turnout report released for eastern NC counties; see your county’s numbers

Here are the voter turnout numbers for the 2026 primary election, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

Hyde County had the highest voter turnout, while Onslow County had the lowest turnout. Check out what the voter turnout in your county was below:

BERTIE COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

31.85% (3,911 out of 12,280)

CARTERET COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

29.06% (16,543 out of 56,931)

CRAVEN COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

18.63% (14,119 out of 75,778)

DUPLIN COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

21.93% (6,981 out of 31,832)

EDGECOMBE COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

18.16% (6,428 out of 35,396)

GREENE COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

19.70% (2,147 out of 10,900)

HYDE COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

37.27% (1,123 out of 3,013)

JONES COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

25.91% (1,805 out of 6,966)

LENOIR COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

16.73% (6,251 out of 37,371)

MARTIN COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

17.61% (2,858 out of 16,228)

ONSLOW COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

11.44% (14,816 out of 129,537)

PAMLICO COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

24.03% (2,446 out of 10,180)

PITT COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

15.71% (19,429 out of 123,705)

TYRRELL COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

30.49% (723 out of 2,371)

WASHINGTON COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

28.66% (2,312 out of 8,067)

WAYNE COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

21.49% (16,408 out of 76,358)

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North Carolina

Statewide tornado drill has NC schools and workplaces practicing safety

Published

2 days ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Statewide tornado drill has NC schools and workplaces practicing safety

Wednesday, March 4, 2026 6:41PM

NC schools and businesses encouraged to practice tornado safety

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — North Carolina schools and businesses took part in a statewide tornado drill Wednesday morning as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week.

The National Weather Service led the drill at 9:30 a.m., broadcasting it on NOAA Weather Radio and the Emergency Alert System. Schools, workplaces and households across the state were encouraged to join in.

The National Weather Service didn’t issue a follow up alert to mark the end of the drill. Instead, each school or business wrapped up once they felt they had practiced the procedures thoroughly.

Wednesday’s drill also replaced the regular weekly NOAA Weather Radio test.

SEE | New warning for parents amid new ‘fire-breathing’ social media trend

Make sure to download the ABC 11 Mobile App ABC11 North Carolina Apps for Connected TV, Mobile News, Echo

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