The following response is for general information purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice.

First, it would be a good idea to meet with an attorney to discuss the facts of the incident (i.e. why the car was stopped, why the car was searched, etc.). An attorney would be able to sift through the details of what happened to determine whether there is anyway to challenge the stop of the vehicle to keep out any evidence that was obtained after the vehicle was stopped OR to challenge the search of the vehicle to keep out any evidence that was found inside the vehicle. Though you can certainly challenge the case on your own, it would first be advisable to at least meet with any attorney to see if pleading not guilty would be a worthwhile option.

Second, there are certainly avenues that are available to have the charges reduced or dismissed with a clean record. Again, it would be advisable to meet with an attorney to have the attorney negotiate on your behalf with the District Attorney assigned to your case. Depending on various factors (i.e. the amount seized, the weaknesses in the State's case, etc.) the District Attorney may offer to dismiss the felony and allow you to plead to misdemeanor, the District Attorney may offer for you to earn a dismissal of your charges by providing cooperation with local police as a confidential information, the District Attorney may offer for you to participate in a 90/96 program to earn a dismissal of your charges, or the District Attorney may offer for you to plead to your charges as they are and you may be sentenced to complete the 90/96 program through which your charges may eventually be dismissed after a year of probation. There are MANY options that are available to the District Attorney to offer to you as a plea offer. A link is provided here for you to read about the newest 90/96 law that recently passed in North Carolina and could potentially apply to your case at sentencing if the charges are not otherwise dismissed.