Recreational marijuana sales begin on North Carolina tribal land, drug illegal in state otherwise

Source: Associated Press

Recreational marijuana sales begin on North Carolina tribal land, drug illegal in state otherwise

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Updated 10:59 AM EDT, September 7, 2024

CHEROKEE, N.C. (AP) — The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians began selling marijuana and cannabis products to any adult 21 or over starting Saturday at its tribe-owned dispensary in North Carolina, where possession or use of the drug is otherwise illegal.

A post on the Facebook page of Great Smoky Cannabis Co., located on the Eastern Band of Cherokee’s western tribal lands, called the day “history in the making” with a video showing a line of people waiting outside the shop shortly before sales began at 10 a.m.

The outlet already started July 4 to sell in-store or drive-thru products for recreational use to adults enrolled in the tribe or any other federally recognized tribe. It had opened its doors in April initially for adult medical marijuana purchases.

Marijuana possession or use is otherwise illegal in North Carolina, but the tribe can pass rules related to cannabis as a sovereign nation. Of North Carolina and its surrounding states, only Virginia allows for the legal recreational use of marijuana statewide.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-north-carolina-eastern-band-of-cherokee-indians-b95696b564a0c147b92dcddb1b3d6826