Cherokee celebrates first day of adult recreational cannabis use
The aroma from the plants could be smelled just about anywhere in the building. Kyle Perrotti photo
It’s been almost a decade in the making, but anyone over 21 with a valid ID can purchase THC products in Western North Carolina.
Sales began last Saturday morning, Sept. 7, at 10 a.m. at the old bingo hall on the western end of the Qualla Boundary. The dispensary is owned by the Great Smoky Cannabis Co., operated by Qualla Enterprises, LLC, an Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians-owned company that also operates a 22.5-acre cannabis farm.
The potentially lucrative venture into the cannabis industry comes amid flagging gaming revenue, a staple for a few decades now, but is also a statement some tribal members consider to be a reaffirmation of their independence.
Last Saturday, the first customer arrived at 1 a.m., and throughout the wee hours of the morning, more people came to join him. By the time the doors opened, the line had hundreds of eager customers snaking through the large parking lot. Although the line moved slow at first, the enthusiasm never waned. The people that were in the back of the line at 10 a.m. when the dispensary opened were entering the building at about 11:30 a.m., and at that point the line had grown even longer.
Inside, the atmosphere was lively as people, many of whom wore clothes adorned with neon pot leaves, perused the wide selection of cannabis products, which includes flowers, tinctures, edibles and THC-infused beverages. Throughout the day, classic stoner music was cued up by the DJ, from Tom Petty’s “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” and a bevy of Sublime hits to classic hip hop cuts like Snoop Dogg’s “Gin and Juice” and Luniz’ “I got 5 on it,” which is itself a sort of cannabis anthem.
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By the time people started entering the dispensary, there were hundreds of people in line. Kyle Perrotti photo
Saturday’s event was bigger than anyone predicted. Qualla Enterprises General Manager Forrest Parker said it was great to see so many enthusiastic people turn out but added that what’s most important is that those people get an experience that exceeds their expectations. He said he was especially proud of everyone he worked with on the ground that made that happen.
“When you wake up in the morning, you’re striving for something, and there’s people that are relying on each other … I’m just so doggone proud of all these people here,” Parker said. “I’m also humbled by the community and our tribal leaders and the support and people just working through challenges.”
The origin
The Eastern Band showed interest in marijuana legalization in 2015, when Tribal Council unanimously approved a feasibility study that sought to determine whether medicinal or recreational cannabis use, as well as industrial hemp, would benefit the tribe. They began growing hemp, and before long, psychoactive cannabis.
In 2021, the Eastern Band approved the use of medicinal cannabis and started accepting applications for medical marijuana cards in July 2023. At that time, a tribal cannabis advisory commission was established to study cannabis-related issues and make regulatory recommendations.
Just one month before the medicinal cards were issued, on Sept. 7 of last year, EBCI voters overwhelmingly approved the legalization of adult-use recreational marijuana. The question on the ballot was simple: “Do you support legalizing the possession and use of cannabis for persons who are at least twenty-one (21) years old and require the EBCI Tribal Council to develop legislation to regulate the market?” A resolution that would legalize cannabis use for adults was introduced during a Tribal Council meeting on Jan. 4 of this year.
The atmosphere at the event was festive, and plenty of visitors took the chance to pose for a photo in front of a big wall with the Great Smoky Cannabis Company logo. Kyle Perrotti photo
On April 20, a sort of holiday for pot smokers, the dispensary opened its doors to people with medical cards. On July 4, sales opened up to everyone over 21 who was an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians or any other federally recognized tribe.
The process to arrive at the big day took almost a decade and at times seemed like it was dragging, leading to frustrations from some. However, ahead of the April 20 opening, a joint statement from tribal leadership published in the Cherokee One Feather sought to address questions and clear up misconceptions.
“With 70 percent of voters in favor, we acknowledge the significance of this vote,” the statement reads. “Since then, we have approached this responsibility seriously so that any legislation concerning cannabis is practical and thoughtful. This is a process that cannot be rushed; there are numerous factors to consider so that we are able to make the best decisions as these are decisions that can have significant long-term impacts on our tribe.”
An assertion of sovreignty
Since last year’s vote to legalize adult use, the Eastern Band has endured challenges from some of North Carolina’s federally elected representatives. In a letter from North Carolina’s Republican senators, Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, several questions were raised regarding the legality and logistics of the tribe’s cultivation, processing, transportation and sales of marijuana. The questions in that letter were posed to elected and appointed leaders around the region.
“As our nation is facing an unprecedented drug crisis that is harming our communities, it is vital to learn what measures your departments and agencies are taking to uphold current federal and state laws,” the senators wrote.
In September of last year, Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson) introduced the Stop Pot Act in Congress, which would have withheld federal funding from states and tribes that permit the use of recreational cannabis. In that release, Edwards specifically noted that the background of the bill was tied directly to EBCI’s vote to allow recreational adult use of cannabis and the fact that its passage would make the Qualla Boundary the only place in North Carolina to allow recreational adult use.
There was a room off to the side of the large event space with several marijuana plants on display and even a few experts to talk about the growing process. Kyle Perrotti photo
“The laws of any government should not infringe on the overall laws of our nation, and federal funds should not be awarded to jurisdictions that willfully ignore federal law,” Edwards said in the release. “During a time when our communities are seeing unprecedented crime, drug addiction, and mental illness, the Stop Pot Act will help prevent even greater access to drugs and ease the strain placed on our local law enforcement and mental health professionals who are already stretched thin.”
This came on the heels of a column Edwards wrote for the Cherokee One Feather that used even stronger language.
“To allow our citizens to travel only a few miles to buy and use this common gateway drug — which the CDC and the New England Journal of Medicine have said can result in short- and long-term danger of addiction, altered brain development, chronic psychosis disorders and others — would be irresponsible, and I intend to stop it,” Edwards wrote.
Former Tribal Council Rep. Teresa McCoy, who has long championed both recreational and medicinal cannabis was at the Saturday opening, had some words for Edwards.
“I want congressman Chuck Edwards to know, specifically from Miss McCoy, that he is a racist. I know that he voted in May on Bill 1702 also, which makes him an Indian hater in my opinion,” McCoy said. “I have half a mind to go before the Tribal Council and request that Chuck Edwards be banished from our Indian land forever. I’m going to give that one considerable thought. But I want him to know that the people of Western North Carolina deserve more than a sniveling congressman who doesn’t stand on my rights as a woman, who does not stand on this tribe’s rights as a sovereign, who does not stand behind the men and women of Western North Carolina who need him to do his congressional job.”
As strong as McCoy’s feelings were regarding Edwards, she said she wouldn’t forget that Saturday brought a reason to celebrate, and that’s the assertion of sovereignty in the face of outside scrutiny. She said that while there have been hurdles and plenty of disagreement, she wanted to praise everyone involved — including members of Tribal Council.
“I thank the men and women who stepped up, took a chance, reached out, went to work,” she said. “I thank the men and women who came here and taught us how to do this. I thank everyone involved. But today, this is a day that I celebrate sovereignty.”
Making the journey
Some people traveled to Cherokee from far-flung destinations. Word Saturday was that one man came from Colorado, although The Smoky Mountain News couldn’t verify that claim. Most people interviewed by SMN had come from North Carolina or a surrounding state. Two men had driven over from Raleigh, getting only a couple hours of sleep in an overlook parking lot off the Blue Ridge Parkway.
People had all kinds of reasons for turning out. There were those who were interested in buying only legal weed from this point forward since Qualla Enterprises has an established testing protocol. There were those who wanted to take in the spectacle. Some had long treated marijuana as medicine for chronic pain, including one family that traveled hours to buy the legal, verified product for a family member with cancer.
Despite knowing the line would be long, everyone seemed to agree that it was worth going on opening day not only to get their product as soon as possible, but also to show their support for the tribe’s new venture.
Ronny Worley traveled from the Brevard area. Having fished around Cherokee for years, he’d been looking forward to the big day for a while, so much so that he showed up at the dispensary a month ago looking to buy and was told to come back Sept. 7.
Ronny Worley sports a t-shirt sold at the dispensary to commemorate the historic day. Kyle Perrotti photo
“I’m really proud of the people here in Cherokee for doing this for, not only for their own people but all the citizens,” Worley said.
Dean Elkins made the short drive over from Candler. Like most people interviewed, Elkins said it was surreal to take in Saturday’s scene. While he said he likes to smoke marijuana out of a pipe and hasn’t tried the edibles, he was excited to perhaps dabble in some of the non-smokable products offered.
“I’ve been smoking marijuana all my life, so it’s cool to see a place where you can just come get it like you’re walking into a Walmart,” Elkins said.
Nathan Apodaca, better recognized by many as Doggface, was also on hand to show his support for the new venture and sell some merch of his own. Apodaca is an actor and musical artist best-known for the 2020 viral video set to Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” in which he rides a skateboard, carefree, drinking cran-raspberry juice straight from the bottle. In an uncertain time when a new pandemic created anxiety across society, the video became a sort of symbol for finding joy amid a hard time. Apodaca has since traveled much of the country but he said Saturday was his first time in the Smoky Mountains.
“It’s just beautiful here, man,” he said. “These are real mountains here.”
Visitors were excited to take selfies with musician and actor Doggface. Kyle Perrotti photo
Apodaca performed twice at the event, once in the morning and once at 4:20 p.m., delivering to the crowd his song “Weed” which is similar to “YMCA” but instead the chorus uses the letters “W-E-E-D.” Apodaca is half Mexican and half Native American from the Northern Arapaho tribe. Like so many, he was happy to celebrate the Eastern Band’s sovereignty. But while he recognized the significance of this moment, he also made it clear he wants to see tribes across the country take the same step toward legalizing cannabis.
“I really hope that this catches on like wildfire,” he said.
Looking forward
Now that the tribe’s cannabis venture has been realized, there are a couple of questions that will be answered over the coming months and years.
The first question is, will there be issues with law enforcement in surrounding counties? Anyone who possesses products containing THC is subject to prosecution as soon as they leave the Qualla Boundary, and an incident like a car crash involving a driver impaired from a product purchased from the dispensary would be fuel for those who have stood against the recent legalization.
While District Attorney Ashley Welch, whose office would prosecute marijuana possession or trafficking cases, didn’t answer questions posed in an email from SMN, she did provide a statement earlier this year.
“The mission, duty and privilege of the 43rd Prosecutorial District is to enforce state laws,” the statement reads. “We do not pick certain laws to enforce and ignore others … Tribes have inherent authority as sovereign nations, subject only to federal, not state, law. We respect tribal sovereignty, and we respect the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ right to enact tribal laws. In North Carolina, the cultivation, distribution and possession of marijuana remains illegal, and we will continue to enforce state law off Qualla Boundary.”
There have also been questions surrounding Qualla Enterprises’ ability to transport its product from its 22.5-acre Cooper’s Creek farm to the dispensary. Shipments must cross out of the Qualla Boundary through Swain County. Although Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran has been relatively quiet on the issue, he did provide WLOS with a statement that alludes to the fact he may try to stop those shipments.
“I have had several conversations with the chief, tribal attorney general, and others about the transportation of the cannabis from the Cooper’s Creek location back onto tribal property,” he said in that statement. “I stated that until North Carolina changes the law, that it is still illegal to possess or transport marijuana on the highway.”
One solution that sticks out that has been brought up at Tribal Council as the likely winner is the use of some form of aerial transportation — likely drones — to move product, but not many details, even potential routes, were discussed. While it’s not entirely clear what means of transportation is being used, it’s clear they’re able to move their product from point A to point B.
The second and perhaps biggest question is, will this venture prove as profitable as the tribe is hoping? Other states that have legalized cannabis have seen growing profits and billions in tax revenue has been generated.
The tribe expects its cannabis industry to quickly evolve into a cash cow. Neither medicinal nor recreational cannabis is currently legal in North Carolina, Tennessee or South Carolina, and in Virginia and Georgia, only medicinal marijuana is legal. Qualla Enterprises anticipates hundreds of millions in profits within just a few years.
Rep. Tom Wahnetah, of the Yellowhill Community, Tribal Council’s liaison to EBCI’s Cannabis Control Board, said that while there were some difficulties early on in the process to legalize adult use and capitalize on cannabis sales, he’s been happy with the final result and was thrilled with Saturday’s turnout.
It may seem that North Carolina’s potential legalization of marijuana, which many expect to come in some form within the next few years, could create competition that would cut into the tribe’s profits, Wahnetah was excited at the notion. Given the Eastern Band’s head-start in the cannabis industry, if North Carolina decides to legalize pot, one theory is that the tribe could actually expand its total market.
“Hopefully the state can follow our model and become medical first, then go in for recreational, and we’re very willing to help them,” Wahnetah said.
When asked how the Eastern Band’s cannabis enterprise will gauge success from here on, his answer was a bit less specific.
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see,” he said. “I’m happy to be here today.”
The dispensary features a full-service kitchen, where various edibles containing THC are produced. Kyle Perrotti photo
The Great Smoky Cannabis Company Dispensary is located at 91 Bingo Loop Drive in Cherokee. Its hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, and it’s closed Monday and Tuesday. Now that adult recreational use is legal on the Qualla Boundary, anyone 21 and over with a valid state ID can purchase products at the dispensary.
Customers can also order products online at greatsmokycannabisco.com.
The cannabis control board is still accepting applications from North Carolina residents over the age of 21 for medical cards. The cost for issuance to residents is $100 and $50 for enrolled EBCI members. There are several approved conditions, including anxiety disorder, eating disorders and cancer. Applications can be submitted at ebci-ccb.org. Those with medical cards are able to receive discounts on products.
