Recreational marijuana sales begin on tribal lands in NC, but are still illegal in the state

CHEROKEE, NC (AP) — The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians began selling marijuana and cannabis products to any adult 21 or older starting Saturday at its tribe-owned dispensary in North Carolina, where possession or use drug is otherwise illegal.

A post on the Facebook page of Great Smoky Cannabis Co., located on the East Strip of the Western Cherokee Tribal Lands, called the day “history in the making” with a video showing a line of people waiting outside the store with shortly before sales begin at 10 am

The chain outlet already began on July 4 to sell in-store or drive-thru products for recreational use to adults enrolled in the tribe or any other federally recognized tribe. It opened its doors in April initially for adult medical marijuana purchases.

Possession or use of marijuana is otherwise illegal in North Carolina, but the tribe can enact rules related to cannabis as a sovereign nation. Of North Carolina and surrounding states, only Virginia allows the legal recreational use of marijuana throughout the state.

Tribal members voted in a referendum last September supporting adult recreational use on their reservation and telling the tribal council to draft legislation to regulate such a market. Those details were laid out by the council, approving language in June that effectively decriminalized cannabis on Eastern Band land called the Qualla Boundary.

The move was not without detractors. Shortly before the referendum, Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards introduced legislation that would have stripped federal highway funding from tribes and states that legalized marijuana — a bill that ultimately died.

The Great Smoky Cannabis sales center, located near Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, is expected to be more of a revenue generator for the 14,000-member tribe as its customer base expands.

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North Carolina Cannabis