Nearly three weeks after opening its doors to everyone 21 and older, the Great Smoky Cannabis Company in Cherokee, North Carolina, continues to see impressive sales, with no arrests of patrons or employees reported.
A line of people waiting to pickup their online order at The Great Smoky Cannabis Company.
Situated on the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ tribal land, the store has attracted thousands of visitors since September 7, offering a diverse selection of marijuana products to adults 21 and older, regardless of tribal membership or medical status.
Prior to the store opening, many within the community feared that police would setup checkpoints outside tribal land, or pull over and search those they see leaving the marijuana store. Despite these fears, and despite marijuana remaining illegal for all uses in all other parts of North Carolina, no arrests have been made in connection with purchases from the store, and local law enforcement has not interfered.
Previously serving only tribal members with medical marijuana cards, the store expanded its operations to recreational sales for tribal members on July 4. On September 7, the store took the step of becoming accessible by anyone 21 and older, even if they are not a member of the tribe.
The move to open the store for recreational sales was made possible due to an ordinance approved earlier this year by the tribal council. Prior to the council’s vote, in November, voters overwhelmingly passed a nonbinding referendum encouraging the council to take such action.
Currently the store offers more than 300 marijuana products, including dried marijuana flower, prerolls, edibles (cookies, gummies, hard candy, etc.), topicals, and concentrates. By January, the store plans to offer over 500 products.
Patrons to the store are able to walk in and browse, they can placed an order online for pickup within the store, or they can use one of the store’s three drive-thru windows.
