Guilford County sheriff warns marijuana remains illegal, urges safe driving on 4/20

Celebrating 4/20 in Guilford County did not change North Carolina law: marijuana possession remains unlawful under G.S. 90-95, and deputies were warning that driving high, drunk or distracted can still lead to arrest on local roads. The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office used an April message to push a simple road-safety line, telling drivers to keep sober eyes on the road as April marked both Alcohol Awareness Month and Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

The statute on the books is blunt. G.S. 90-95 makes possession of a controlled substance unlawful unless authorized by law, and the North Carolina General Assembly’s statute page says the code reflects changes through Session Law 2025-97. The law does contain a narrow marijuana provision: the transfer of less than 5 grams of marijuana for no remuneration is not treated as delivery under the statute. That does not legalize adult use in North Carolina, and it leaves marijuana regulated under state criminal law.

That legal reality is not theoretical in Guilford County. On Feb. 26, 2026, the Guilford County Narcotics Task Force wrapped up a multi-agency investigation that stretched from Charlotte to Durham and led to the seizure of about 329 pounds of marijuana, 20 firearms, customized jewelry and $83,820 in cash. Sheriff Danny H. Rogers identified Shameik Baldwin, 28, as the primary target in the case, and Baldwin is pending federal charges. WFMY News 2 reported the same case and said Baldwin was arrested Feb. 26.

The sheriff’s office has been pairing its marijuana enforcement with a broader traffic message this month. Its social media post tied the 4/20 period to impaired-driving risks without separating marijuana from other dangers on the road, reinforcing that deputies are watching for drivers who are high, drunk or distracted. For residents who assume marijuana has been fully relaxed under state law, the gap is plain: possession is still illegal, enforcement is active, and Guilford County authorities are still making drug cases that can reach into federal court.

Anyone with questions for the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office can call the non-emergency line at 336-373-2222.