Cherokee Tribe Moves Forward With Recreational Cannabis Sales, While North Carolina And Neighboring States Remain Fully Illegal
About nine months after members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) voted to legalize marijuana sales for adults over 21, the Tribal Council made it official on June 6. However, recreational sales won’t start immediately. EBCI Attorney General Mike McConnell said it might take two to three more months for Qualla Enterprises to begin sales, Smoky Mountain News reports.
Medical Cannabis Before, Recreational Now
Medical cannabis is legal for the Cherokee Tribe in the Qualla Boundary where sales launched on 4/20 this year. The tribe is a federally recognized sovereign self-governed nation hence the community has the right to open a medical marijuana dispensary in the otherwise fully prohibitionist state of North Carolina. The tribal community decided to expand to recreational sales as well though their efforts have faced …