The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ Tribal Council is set to vote to amend EBCI code to allow the sale of recreational marijuana on the Qualla Boundary. If the June 6 vote passes, the Eastern Band would take a major step to establish North Carolina’s first recreational marijuana market, despite the drug being illegal outside of the Qualla Boundary.
However, if the amendment is passed, recreational marijuana sales will not start immediately.
During a May 30 work session, officials from the EBCI-backed Great Smoky Cannabis Co., estimated it would take the dispensary “60-75 days” to open to the general public if the vote is passed. The timeline sets the opening of North Carolina’s first recreational cannabis market for the end of this summer.
The Great Smoky Cannabis Co., run by the EBCI-backed Qualla Enterprises LLC, opened for medical marijuana sales on April 20, making it the first marijuana dispensary to open in North Carolina.
Though a September referendum indicated overwhelming support for the practice, the dispensary could not open for recreational sales due to the Tribal Council not yet passing an amendment to Cherokee Code to allow adult use.
During the work session, Qualla Enterprises General Manager Forrest Parker said the goal after a positive