Possession of cannabis oil landed Brittney Griner in a Russian jail. Is it legal in NC?
WNBA star Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison on Thursday by a Russian judge after being accused of smuggling drugs into the country.
Griner, who was first detained in February at a Moscow airport, was accused of having hashish oil in her luggage.
Hashish oil, or hash oil, is a type of oil that comes from cannabis plants that contains THC, the psychoactive compound found in marijuana, Healthline.com, an online resource for health information, said.
The oil is typically more potent than marijuana since it can contain up to 90% THC, while other cannabis products have an average of around 12%. It can be ingested orally or by smoking, vaping or rubbing on the skin, according to Healthline.
Here’s what to know about the legality of hash oil in North Carolina, what it’s used for, and where to get it.
Is hash oil legal in North Carolina?
Hash oil is illegal in North Carolina, but similar substances are permitted.
In 2018, federal lawmakers legalized the production of hemp, a plant related to marijuana that contains lower levels of THC, The News & Observer reported. The move defined cannabis plants and any of their extracts as substances that have a THC concentration of less than 0.3%.
Cannabidiol, or CBD, a naturally occurring compound found in the cannabis plant, is legal in the state and is sold in the form of oils.
Delta-8 THC, another psychoactive substance derived from cannabis that produces a lighter “high”, is also legal in N.C.
RELATED: What is delta-8 THC? A look at the substance known as ‘diet weed’
What is hash oil used for?
Like marijuana, using hash oil can lead to a sense of euphoria and help treat nausea, pain and inflammation.
Cannabis also has proven health benefits for a range of conditions, from childhood seizure disorders to loss of appetite in people with HIV or AIDS, said Kevin Hill, an addiction psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School.
Long-term cannabis users can experience brain fog, lowered motivation, and difficulty with learning, but the issue can be resolved by lowering the THC content of the substances they use, Hill said.
Where can you get hash oil in North Carolina?
Hash oil cannot be purchased from retailers in North Carolina, but many stores sell CBD and delta-8 THC oil.
Outside of oil, some shops in Charlotte carry CBD and delta-8-infused edibles like gummies, seltzers, smoothies and popcorn.
RELATED: Here are 10 locations in Charlotte that sell CBD and delta-8 THC products.
This story was originally published August 5, 2022 at 11:50 AM with the headline "Possession of cannabis oil landed Brittney Griner in a Russian jail. Is it legal in NC?."
