First Cannabis Sale in North Carolina ‘Part of History’

Members of the Cherokee tribe first approved opening a retail dispensary for medical cannabis three years ago. Last year, they voted to entirely legalize marijuana and sell it to adults 21 and above. The path toward opening the first dispensary was filled with obstacles, procedural delays, and threats from GOP lawmakers in North Carolina, who are generally opposed to legal marijuana. Outside the Qualla Boundary, a 57-000 acre land administered by the tribe, cannabis remains illegal in North Carolina. 

The Great Smoky dispensary began selling cannabis to members of the Cherokee Indians and other federally recognized tribes already in July of this year. But now it marked the first time that anyone could walk into the store and purchase weed products in a legal fashion. 

Rare Place to Buy Legal Cannabis in the Southeast 

Not only does recreational cannabis remain illegal in the Tar Heel State,  it’s also off limits in all of North Carolina’s neighbors: Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and Virginia. That means that right now the Great Smoky Cannabis Company is the only marijuana retailer in the greater area of the Southeast that offers legal recreational cannabis products. 

By law, products purchased at the tribal dispensary may not be legally taken off tribal land. Nor can cannabis be used in the store premises. Still, that has not stopped the thousands of people who showed up on the morning of the store opening. 

“We are proud industry pioneers - and our hearts are always in it,” the company posted on social media ahead of the sales launch. “Thank you for joining us on our special journey!” 

The grand opening of Great Smoky was also attended by viral TikTok star Doggface. Doggface rose to stardom after posting a video in which he drinks Ocean Spray on a skateboard while singing a song from Fleetwood Mac. The music program was led by guest DJ X. 

It’s expected that cannabis legalization on the Qualla Boundary will pour in millions of dollars in profits for the tribe. Industry insiders project that cannabis could potentially bring $800 million to the Cherokee by 2028. 

North Carolina Lawmakers Oppose Cannabis Legalization on Tribal Land

The decision of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to let all visitors purchase cannabis at its legal store normally caused anger among North Carolina congressional lawmakers. An effort was made to reduce federal funding for tribes who legalize cannabis. 

But for the Cherokee Indians this was not merely a question whether to legalize cannabis or not. It was at the same time an assertion of tribal sovereignty, and was felt across far and wide. 

“A lot of tribes have already taken action on their own, on their own lands, to either decriminalize or legalize in some cases–and now for the betterment of the state, not just their own interest,” Rob Pero, founder of the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association (ICIA) recently told Marijuana Moment. 

Republican senators protested the decision by writing to federal, state and local authorities to inquire what measures they were taking to enforce the ban on recreational cannabis. 

“As our nation is facing an unprecedented drug crisis that is harming our communities, it is vital to learn what measures your department and agencies are taking to uphold current federal and state laws,” wrote Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, Marijuana Moment reported. 

But the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians already wrote history by officially launching legal cannabis sales on their territory. They’ve sent a powerful message to the greater community, and their decision to lead the way for indigenous cannabis will have a long-lasting impact on other tribes as well. 

Also read on Soft Secrets: 

- As Money Flows, Vermont Weed Market is Overcrowding

- Ohio Launches Recreational Cannabis with 98 Operators

- New California Bills Include Provisions for Cannabis Cafes