Over a year after it first opened to the public, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Great Smoky Cannabis Co. dispensary remains the only legal recreational marijuana dispensary in North Carolina.
Though Sen. Thom Tillis asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to look into a series of allegations he made against the company on Oct. 7, tribal officials have rejected his claims against the industry.
The dispensary was the product of several years' worth of progress toward a "seed-to-sale" cannabis program, which has received significant investment from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians tribal council. Here's what to know about the program.
How did Cherokee weed become legal?
Prior to the Great Smoky Cannabis Co. dispensary opening in 2024, EBCI investment into the cannabis industry had been a topic of discussion for years. The EBCI, like many other tribal nations, is a sovereign nation with its own elections, laws, government and institutions that are self-governed and autonomous.
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