Greensboro, NC Cannabis Regulations: Personal Cultivation Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Legal status
- Fully prohibited statewide
- Statute
- NCGS 90-95
- Felony threshold
- Over 1.5 ounces possession
- CBD exception
- Epilepsy registry only
- Local override
- Not permitted
Summary
Personal cannabis cultivation is illegal in Greensboro because North Carolina has not legalized medical or recreational marijuana; growing any amount remains a felony or misdemeanor under NCGS 90-95 regardless of city policy.
§ 90-95. Violations; penalties.
(a) Except as authorized by this Article, it is unlawful for any person:
(1) To manufacture, sell or deliver, or possess with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver, a controlled substance;
(2) To create, sell or deliver, or possess with intent to sell or deliver, a counterfeit controlled substance;
(3) To possess a controlled substance.
(d) Except as provided in subsections (h) and (i) of this section, any person who violates G.S. 90-95(a)(3) with respect to:
(4) A controlled substance classified in Schedule VI shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor, but any sentence of imprisonment imposed must be suspended and the judge may not require at the time of sentencing that the defendant serve a period of imprisonment as a special condition of probation. If the quantity of the controlled substance exceeds one-half of an ounce (avoirdupois) of marijuana or one-twentieth of an ounce (avoirdupois) of the extracted resin of marijuana, commonly known as hashish, the violation shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. If the quantity of the controlled substance exceeds one and one-half ounces (avoirdupois) of marijuana, or three-twentieths of an ounce (avoirdupois) of the extracted resin of marijuana, commonly known as hashish, or if the controlled substance consists of any quantity of synthetic tetrahydrocannabinols or tetrahydrocannabinols isolated from the resin of marijuana, the violation shall be punishable as a Class I felony.
Full Breakdown
North Carolina is one of a shrinking number of states with no comprehensive medical or recreational cannabis program. Cultivation of marijuana plants is prohibited statewide under the Controlled Substances Act, NCGS Chapter 90. Penalties scale with plant count and weight: small amounts under 1.5 ounces are typically misdemeanor possession, while cultivation or possession over 1.5 ounces is a felony. The 2014 Epilepsy Alternative Treatment Act allows narrow CBD use for intractable epilepsy with neurologist registration. Greensboro cannot authorize cultivation that the state forbids, and local police enforce state law on private property and in rentals alike.
Violations & Fines
Cultivating any cannabis plant exposes residents to misdemeanor or felony charges under NCGS 90-95, asset forfeiture, and potential federal supplementary prosecution depending on quantity and intent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow hemp legally in Greensboro?
Will North Carolina legalize cannabis soon?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Greensboro
Compare Greensboro to another location·View the North Carolina cannabis regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.