Recreational marijuana coming next month: Cherokee announces adult-use cannabis date
The official announcement came in the form of this post on the Great Smoky Mountain Cannabis Company’s X page. Great Smoky Mountain Cannabis Company photo
Beginning, Sept. 7, anyone over the age of 21 will be able to purcha se and use marijuana on the Qualla Boundary.
While the official announcement was made at 10:22 a.m. in the form of a post on the Great Smoky Cannabis Company’s X page, the news actually broke about an hour earlier during an Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council meeting. At the end of that meeting, Council Rep. Richard French, of the Big Cove community made it official.
“I got a text from the cannabis [company], and they said they shared with the chief already, so I’ll put this out; they will announce to the public that on Sept. 7 at 10 a.m. the adult use for all people 21 and older will be open at the dispensary,” he said.
Noteworthy as the announcement seemed at the time, there was no further discussion at that meeting. The post on X from Great Smoky Cannabis Company read, “Drumroll, please … Are you ready to #BePartOfHistory?” before confirming that adult recreational sales would begin at 10 a.m. Sept. 7.
This means anyone over the age of 21 from anywhere in the country can purchase cannabis products at the dispensary. While transportation or use of the products are still illegal in counties surrounding the Qualla Boundary, as well as the rest of North Carolina, use is permitted on the boundary.
The vote to legalize adult use of marijuana came on Sept. 7 of last year and saw about 70% of enrolled members who cast a ballot support the measure.
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The question tribal members voted on was: “Do you support legalizing the possession and use of cannabis for persons who are at least twenty-one (21) years old, and require the EBCI Tribal Council to develop legislation to regulate the market?” A resolution to that effect was submitted to Tribal Council in January.
On April 20 of this year — known as 4/20, a sort of holiday in the stoner community — the Great Smoky Cannabis Company dispensary opened for business but could only serve those with medical cards.
On June 6 of this year, Tribal Council approved the ordinance legalizing adult use. While some details had to be ironed out, things happened quickly, and on July 4, the dispensary began selling to any enrolled member of any federally recognized tribe.
The tribe expects its cannabis industry to become extremely lucrative, extremely quickly. Neither medical nor recreational cannabis is currently legal in North Carolina, Tennessee or South Carolina. Qualla Enterprises anticipates employing somewhere around 500 people and making enough money within a couple of years to send the tribe $260 million in profits. It’s also expected to make money for the tribe through generating tribal levy, akin to a sales tax.
The medical marijuana program, approved in 2021, will still serve those with EBCI-issued cards. The cannabis control board accepts applications from North Carolina residents over the age of 21. The cost for issuance to residents is $100 and $50 for enrolled EBCI members. There are several approved conditions, including anxiety disorder, eating disorders and cancer. Applications can be submitted at ebci-ccb.org.
The Great Smoky Cannabis Company dispensary is located at 91 Bingo Loop Road. Anyone wishing to purchase cannabis products from the dispensary must present a ID to prove they are over the age of 21.
