Cherokee Tribe to Begin Selling Recreational Cannabis Products to Adults 21 and Over

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' marijuana retailer on their tribal lands in western North Carolina announced on Thursday that it will start selling cannabis products to anyone aged 21 or over starting next month.

Great Smoky Cannabis Co. shared the news on social media, revealing a 10 a.m. start time on September 7. Since July 4, the outlet has been selling recreational cannabis products in-store or via drive-thru to adults enrolled in the tribe or any other federally recognized tribe. Initially, when the doors opened in April, the sales were limited to medical marijuana for adults.

The move to broaden sales follows a referendum from last September, in which tribal members voted to support adult recreational use on their reservation and instructed the tribal council to create legislation to regulate the market. The council finalized these details in June, effectively decriminalizing cannabis on Eastern Band land, known as the Qualla Boundary.

Although marijuana possession or use remains illegal in North Carolina, the tribe, as a sovereign nation, has the authority to pass its own cannabis regulations. Among North Carolina and its neighboring states, only Virginia has legalized recreational marijuana use statewide.

The social media announcement on Thursday did not provide additional details about the expanded sales.

Qualla Enterprises, the tribe’s cannabis subsidiary, had previously indicated a two-step process to extend sales to adult use, initially limiting sales to tribal members.