Sets historic precedent in North Carolina
By Brittney Lofthouse
In a landmark decision that could redefine the landscape of marijuana legalization in North Carolina, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Tribal Council has voted to amend their Tribal Ordinance, allowing for the sale and consumption of recreational marijuana. This decision, passed by an 8-2 vote during last week’s Tribal Council session, paves the way for the first legal recreational marijuana market in the state, beginning this summer.
The amendment follows a September referendum where 70% of tribal members supported adult recreational use on the Qualla Boundary. This overwhelming support mandated the council consider legislation regulating the recreational marijuana market. The result is an ordinance that initially limits sales to tribal members starting in July, with plans to expand access to all adults over 21 by early to mid-August.
The EBCI’s initiative comes just weeks after Great Smoky Cannabis Co., which is owned and operated by the Tribe, opened its doors on April 20, exclusively selling to adults with a tribe medical cannabis patient card or an approved out-of-state medical marijuana card. The new ordinance will now permit any adult over 21 — regardless of their affiliation as enrolled members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians — to purchase and use marijuana on the reservation.
Director of the tribe’s cannabis subsidary, Forrest Parker, spoke durong the Tribal Council session to highlight the financial implications of this expansion during a recent council work session. According to Parker, the dispensary is projected to potentially generate $385 million in gross sales revenues in its first year if the product is available to all adult users. This is a significant increase compared to the projected $200 million if sales remain restricted to medical patients.
The EBCI’s move to legalize recreational marijuana sales is historic, given that marijuana possession and use remain illegal in the rest of North Carolina. As a federally recognized tribe, the EBCI possesses the sovereignty to establish its own cannabis regulations independent of state law.
The medical marijuana program, which has been operational since the dispensary’s opening in April, will continue to function alongside the new recreational market. The expansion of the customer base is expected to transform the dispensary into a major revenue generator for the 14,000-member tribe, providing much-needed economic benefits and potentially setting a precedent for other tribes and jurisdictions considering similar measures.