The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) will open its marijuana megastore to everyone 21+ either next month or in September, regardless of whether they are a tribal member or a medical marijuana patient.
The Great Smoky Cannabis Company —located in a former bingo hall that cost over $50 million to refurbish— opened for medical marijuana sales in April. On July 4, it began recreational marijuana sales, with sales exclusive to tribal members. Now, the store is preparing to open to everyone 21 and older, with sales beginning sometime in August or September.
The Great Smoky Cannabis Company is located near Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, roughly three hours from Charlotte and 4.5 hours from Raleigh. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Tribal Council voted last month to legalize recreational marijuana. The vote followed a September ordinance approved by tribal members, requesting the council to develop legislation to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana.
In response to this, Congressmember Chuck Edwards (R-NC), David Rouzer (R-NC), and Gregory Murphy (R-NC) are pushing the Stop Pot Act, which they filed in September.
The Stop Pot Act would withhold 10% of federal highway funds from states and tribes that violate the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Since the CSA classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug, any state that legalizes it would be in violation of federal law and thus face funding cuts.
The measure has been assigned to the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, where it has remained since September. It has not received a single new sponsor since October, despite proponents of the measure encouraging colleagues to join the list of supporters.
The measure has until the end of the year to be passed by House and Senate, or it will expire.
