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The opening of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ dispensary marks the first time marijuana can legally be purchased in North Carolina. The grand opening of the Great Smoky Cannabis Company was held on 4/20.
This opening follows the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Tribal Council’s 2021 decision to legalize medical cannabis within the Qualla Boundary. The ECBI is a sovereign self-governed nation and a federally recognized tribe, hence the community has the right to open a medical marijuana dispensary in the otherwise fully prohibitionist state of North Carolina.
Among those patients was Chris Suttle, whose survival from a terminal diagnosis through cannabis serves as a testament to the profound impact of this opening. “I decided that first appointment when they told me the tumor had shrunk, that if cannabis saved my life, that I would dedicate my life to it,” Suttle said according to Spectrum News 1, highlighting the personal and social significance of this day.
Facing Federal Challenges
However, this progress occurs against a backdrop of federal resistance. U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards (R) introduced the “Stop Pot Act” in September last year, threatening to cut federal funding to entities legalizing cannabis, directly targeting tribal initiatives like the EBCI’s. Despite these