Can you marry your first cousin in North Carolina?

On November 16th, The Charlotte Observer had an article about cousin marriage:

It is actually legal to marry your first cousin in North Carolina, according to the N.C. Judicial Branch.

However, marriages between double first cousins (the children of two sisters who married two brothers) are prohibited, state law says.

The validity of marriage licenses between cousins depends on the state, according to LegalMatch.

“For example, there are certain states that make distinctions between the categories of cousins as well as half-cousins and adopted cousins,” LegalMatch says. “In general, the rule of thumb is that the more distant the blood relationship between the parties, the more likely the state will allow a marriage to occur between them.”