RALEIGH - The North Carolina Court of Appeals has ruled that simple possession of cocaine is a misdemeanor, not a felony, a decision that could impact thousands of cases in Cleveland County and many more across the state.

The ruling means that someone could be arrested for having as many as 150 $20 rocks of cocaine, and be charged with only a misdemeanor, according to state and local officials.

The ruling will affect multiple areas of the judicial system - from habitual felon prosecutions to sentencing guidelines to cases already disposed. And it also applies to different drugs, including PCP and methamphetamine, said Robert Farb, professor of public law and government at the Institute of Government.

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