WLOS
By Neydja Petithomme
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QUALLA BOUNDARY, North Carolina (WLOS) — Saturday, April 20, marks a historic day for North Carolina as the first medical cannabis dispensary held its grand opening in Cherokee.
A ribbon cutting was held at 9:30 a.m. outside The Great Smoky Cannabis Dispensary, located at 91 Bingo Loop Road in the Qualla Boundary.
People all across the mountains were lined up outside, eagerly waiting to purchase the Eastern Band of Indians’ packaged cannabis.
Forrest Parker, the general manager for the Great Smoky Cannabis Company, said that they are always striving to improve the quality of their products.
“The first legal, regulated, safe cannabis to be sold within the boundaries of North Carolina,” Parker said. “We’re very proud to set the bar in quality and in health and safety.”
All the products are produced locally from plants grown and processed at the Cooper’s Creek Farm. Parker said he is thrilled about the direction of this company.
“We’re just proud to be the first to enter into this industry, but in this opportunity, it’s pretty much a people’s opportunity. We’re cultivators of people, not just plants, and that’s really important to us,”