CHEROKEE, NC (AP) — A tribal-owned medical marijuana dispensary in western North Carolina is also now selling cannabis products for adult recreational use just weeks after the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians governing board approved its expanded use on tribal lands.
The Great Smoky Cannabis Co. began recreational marijuana sales on July 4 to adults at least 21 years of age who are enrolled Eastern Band members or members of any other federally recognized tribe, according to news outlets. A company social media post included a photo of what it called last Thursday’s first legal sale of marijuana for recreational use on Eastern Band land called the Qualla Boundary. Recreational sales to nonmembers are expected to begin later in the summer.
In April, Great Smoky Cannabis opened its doors for medical marijuana purchases for adults with a tribe medical cannabis patient card or an out-of-state approved medical marijuana card.
But tribal members had already voted in a referendum last September backing adult recreational use on their reservation as well, and telling the tribal council to develop legislation to regulate such a market. Based on the referendum, the council approved language last month that effectively decriminalizes cannabis on the Qualla Boundary, but also updates