North Carolina’s first marijuana dispensary will open on April 20. It will be the region’s first opportunity to purchase the drug, which has been legalized by nearly half of American states while remaining illegal in North Carolina.
However, not everyone will be able to purchase marijuana at the dispensary.
For North Carolinians, only those with a Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians medical marijuana card will be able to purchase products at the dispensary, despite a September referendum showing widespread support for the sale of recreational marijuana, the Great Smoky Cannabis Company announced March 25. The dispensary will also sell to those who have out-of-state medical marijuana cards or other tribal medical cannabis cards.
Despite the pause on recreational sales, the type of products sold will vary widely, according to the Great Smoky Company news release.
“The new dispensary will open with high-quality tested products—including flower, vape products, edibles, topicals, and more—carefully curated to meet the diverse needs of patients. Product selection will continue to grow and evolve each month,” the March 25 news release said.
The Great Smoky Cannabis Company is located at 91 Bingo Loop Road in Cherokee, where the dispensary website currently provides updates for future menu changes and a virtual tour of the 10,000 square-foot facility.
The effort to distribute marijuana at the 10,000 square-foot dispensary has been met with recent criticism from regional and statewide Republican lawmakers.
Congressman Chuck Edwards created the “Stop Pot Act” opposing the sale of medical and recreational marijuana throughout the United States and included a provision to remove federal funding for states and tribes who have passed legalization laws. North Carolina’s two senators, Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, issued statements asking questions about the legality of marijuana on tribal lands.
Democratic State rep. Caleb Rudow — who is running for congress — and EBCI Chief Michell Hicks, have pointed to health benefits of marijuana and tribal sovereignty in defense of the dispensary, as previously reported by Citizen Times.
Though the referendum on the topic of recreational marijuana saw widespread support, Tribal Council has not yet passed a resolution amending current tribal laws to allow for the sale of recreational marijuana.
Cherokee One Feather reported the Tribal Council joint statement March 28. The council said they would continue to pursue the passage of recreational marijuana use.
“With 70 percent of voters in favor, we acknowledge the significance of this vote. Since then, we have approached this responsibility seriously so that any legislation concerning cannabis is practical and thoughtful. This is a process that cannot be rushed; there are numerous factors to consider so that we are able to make the best decisions as these are decisions that can have significant long-term impacts on our tribe,” the statement read, according to Cherokee One Feather.
Other questions about the project include how the marijuana will be transported to the dispensary. Roads from the farm where the cannabis is grown lead into Swain County territory where the plant remains illegal under North Carolina state law.
Qualla Enterprises General Manager Forrest Parker said there were two plans to transport marijuana from the Coopers Creek Road farm during the late-February work session on the adult-use ordinance.
One plan would have product moved through the air — meaning a plane or helicopter — while another would use a specific set of roads from the Coopers Creek farm to deliver the product to the dispensary, Parker said during the meeting.
Since the region’s first taste of marijuana — also known as cannabis or weed — only applies to those who qualify, here’s a refresher on the rules for the region:
In order to qualify for a card, you must be a resident of North Carolina, 21 years old, along with paying $100 for the first issuance and an additional $100 for every year the card is renewed. Payment can only be made by cash, check or money order.
Tribal marijuana law only applies to Tribal lands. Cannabis remains illegal in North Carolina and federally.
After applying, patients must submit a recent photo with a white background.
In order to medically qualify, a resident must have a medical attestation from a physician that they have one of 18 qualifying conditions. No prescription is needed.
You can learn more at: https://ebci-ccb.org/
Here are the conditions which qualify patients for a medical cannabis patient card:
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Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
North Carolina's 1st marijuana dispensary to open 4/20. What to know – Citizen Times
