While illegal in North Carolina, marijuana has one refuge in the state: the Qualla Boundary.
In Cherokee, North Carolina, the Great Smoky Cannabis Co. brands itself as the only legal cannabis dispensary in North Carolina and is the product of a full “seed to sale” operation launched by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Cannabis is grown on a farm roughly 9 miles away from the over 10,000-square-foot dispensary where it is processed and sold.
The dispensary, featuring a drive-thru, edible kitchen and grow room, initially opened for medical sales to members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on April 20, 2024. It was the first in the state to open as a medical marijuana dispensary. Recreational marijuana sales began at the dispensary in September.
Possession of cannabis in North Carolina is illegal, but the Qualla Boundary is part of the sovereign nation of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The drug is also illegal on the federal level. The EBCI passed a resolution in 2023 legalizing the recreational sale and consumption of the drug on the Qualla Boundary.
The dispensary is celebrating its first anniversary the weekend of April 20. Here’s what to know.
Great Smoky Cannabis Co. is open to anyone over the age of 21 with a valid I.D. The dispensary accepts customers from across the country and all valid medical cards, regardless of state.
The dispensary is cash only. Cash and debit is not accepted. ATMs are on-site, but the dispensary recommends having cash ready before the event as “demand for ATMs will be high.” Orders can be placed online or made in-person at the dispensary.
The dispensary is open all weekend, including Easter Sunday, which is April 20. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and the dispensary is open seven days a week.
Great Smoky Cannabis Co. product is subject to regulations under the EBCI’s Cannabis Control Board. Customers are limited to 35 grams per purchase, according to the dispensary’s website.
Though Great Smoky Cannabis Co. has not been making recreational sales for a year, April 20 will celebrate the dispensary’s opening for medical sales, making it the first to open for medical sales in the state. The company is holding promotions and events during its first anniversary, including discounts and live music.
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 or message will_hofmann.1 on Signal. Consider supporting this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.