Green History: How the Eastern Band of Cherokee brought marijuana to North Carolina – bpr.org
BPR’s Lilly Knoepp has been following the evolution of marijuana laws on the Qualla Boundary since 2018. The tribe first legalized medical marijuana in 2021 and in 2023 passed a referendum to sell recreational marijuana.
BPR followed the approval of policy and budgeting around marijuana through the Eastern Band of Cherokee (EBCI)’s Tribal Council. The EBCI has placed their bets on legalization as a new revenue stream with about $50 million invested into the cannabis venture which includes a farm, dispensary and workers to process the product into 265 products from edible treats to smokable buds.
BPR reported exclusively from the farm as well as attending the openings of the dispensary as it began to sell medical marijuana followed by recreational marijuana.