On Thursday, September 7 members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) in North Carolina will vote on a proposal that would legalize recreational marijuana.
The EBCI legalized marijuana for medical purposes in 2021, and subsequently allocated $50 million to refurbish a bingo hall to become a medical marijuana superstore (which they recently began accepting applications for). The proposed law being consider on September 7 would open this store to everyone 21 and older, whether or not they’re a medical marijuana patient or a tribal member.
The referendum was placed on the tribe’s general election ballot by the EBCI Tribal Council.
The medical marijuana superstore, ran by Qualla Enterprises, will already be the only place in North Carolina where a person can legally buy medical marijuana once it opened. This referendum would also make it the only place to purchase marijuana for recreational purposes.
“[W]e 1,000% support this,” said Forrest Parker, general manager of Qualla Enterprises. “Adult use is critically important to the business, if you look at it from a revenue standpoint. It is the ultimate business model for us. Think how many more people will walk through the door.”
Parker says “Fundamentally, we’re prepared to handle it.”
On the state level, in March the North Carolina Senate voted 36 to 10 to pass legislation to legalize medical marijuana. However, the measure failed to receive consideration in the House before the end of the legislative session.
In April recreational marijuana legislation was filed in the North Carolina Legislature with 21 sponsors. As with the medical marijuana bill it failed to be passed into law this year, but both will remain alive in the 2024 session.
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