The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (ECBI) has officially voted to legalize recreational marijuana sales, allowing their marijuana superstore to open soon to everyone 21 and older regardless of if they’re a tribal member.
(Photo credit: Will Hofmann/Ashebille Citizen Times).
In September members of the EBCI voted overwhelmingly in favor of a referendum that asked “Do you support legalizing the possession and use of cannabis for persons who are at least twenty-one (21) years old, and require the EBCI Tribal Council to develop legislation to regulate the market?”
Now, the council has officially passed a law adopting the referendum into law, allowing recreational marijuana sales to begin by August. The vote was 8 to 2.
On 4/20 the Great Smoky Cannabis Company, housed at the previous home of a bingo hall that cost over $50 million to refurbish, opened its door to medical marijuana patients, making it the first marijuana dispensary in North Carolina. The store is located near Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort roughly three hours from Charlotte and 4.5 hours from Raleigh.
The ordinance approved by the tribal council will allow the Great Smoky Cannabis Company to serve everyone 21+, and not just patients.
Although the tribe will allow nontribal members to purchase and possess marijuana and marijuana products, those caught possessing it outside of tribal land on North Carolina grounds still face a misdemeanor charge for possessing even a single gram and a felony charge if they possess over 1.5 ounces.
