The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will sell cannabis recreationally to anyone over 21 years old, regardless of tribal affiliation.
The Center Square by Victor Skinner
Residents of North Carolina could have access to recreational marijuana through a September ballot referendum set by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
The tribal council approved last week a ballot question that will be used in the September 7th election. This will allow tribe members to vote to legalize marijuana possession and sale from the Qualla boundary, about 45 miles west Asheville.
If approved, sales will eventually be open to anyone older than 21. This builds on the tribal medical marijuana program which opened in June to residents of North Carolina.
Although funding issues have slowed construction, tribal leaders say that Qualla Enterprises — the tribe’s marijuana company — has already grown 25 million dollars worth of cannabis.
About 14,000 people live within the Qualla Boundary, which is a federally recognized tribe. In 2021, the tribe decriminalized possession of marijuana. The Old North State’s first medical marijuana program, which will supply cannabis to patients under its program, is set to launch in 2021.
The approval of the tribal referendum will likely increase the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ monopoly over marijuana sales in the State. North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) indicated last week that legislation to launch a medical marijuana program in the state this year was unlikely to pass by the lower chamber.
Senate Bill 3 (also known as Compassionate Care Act) was approved by the Senate with a 36-10 bipartisan vote in March. However, it has been languishing in the House, where only a single hearing was held for information. Last session, a similar proposal was defeated in the House.
Bill Rabon of Brunswick County, a Republican senator, who sponsored SB3 and testified that his medical marijuana use played a major role in his overcoming colon carcinoma two decades ago, linked the fate of the bill in June to House Bill 75. This legislation would allow certain physician assistants the freedom to practice without supervision by a physician.
Rabon changed HB75 (which passed the House unanimously by February) to require SB3 become law along with HB75 prior to the Senate voting 36-7 to send HB75 back to the House for approval.
The House Rules Committee is currently considering HB75, and the House Committee on Health is considering SB3.
SB3 allows patients with debilitating medical conditions over 21 years of age to obtain approval from the State to purchase medical marijuana. Each licensed grower can have up to 8 sales centers. According to the most recent fiscal study, a 10 percent gross sales fee would generate $50.4 millions for the state in 2028-29.
The Center Square published this story first.
New Congressional amendments would end marijuana tests for federal job applicants and encourage psychedelic research
Photo by Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
The article North Carolina Indian Tribe Legalizes Marijuana on the Ballot first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
