NC Residents: It's Time to Get Your Medical Cannabis Card

Good news for residents of North Carolina can now grab their chance to apply for a medical cannabis patient card through the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' (EBCI) medical cannabis program.

Nearly 200 tribal members have applied for medical cannabis since mid-April 2023. Now, the program is open to all North Carolina residents who are at least 21 years old and meet one of the 18 specified health conditions. Don't miss your chance to apply for a medical cannabis card.

The Eastern Band and Tribal Code have established clear categories that determine a patient's eligibility for the cannabis program. Patients can complete an application and take it to their healthcare provider to gather their health information, which can then be submitted to the cannabis control board for a patient card. This information was confirmed by David Wijewickrama, Chairman of the EBCI Cannabis Control Board.

New medical cards now come with advanced tracking technology that monitors a patient's crucial details and monthly usage. These cards are designed with unique laser-etched barcodes and patient images, ensuring that they cannot be duplicated or tampered with, thus preventing any fraudulent practices.

Here's what the new cards will look like:

The conditions that qualify are listed on the EBCI-CCB website along with the application for a patient card or click HERE

These are the conditions listed on the website that qualify for a patient card:

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 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; or

Severe or chronic pain;

A medical condition related to the human immunodeficiency virus;

Post-traumatic stress disorder;

Crohn’s disease;

Sickle cell anemia;

Amyotrophic lateral syndrome;

Parkinson’s disease;

A condition resulting in the patient receiving Hospice care;

And any terminal illness when the patient’s remaining life expectancy is less than six months.