The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has opened a large-scale cannabis business called Great Smoky Cannabis Co. on tribal land in Cherokee, North Carolina. The 20,000-square-foot marijuana dispensary operates under the tribe’s sovereign law, defying federal prohibition.
Why it matters
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ cannabis business represents a growing trend of Native American tribes leveraging their sovereign status to establish legal marijuana industries, even as the drug remains federally prohibited. This highlights the complex legal landscape surrounding cannabis and the ongoing tensions between tribal, state, and federal jurisdictions.
The details
Great Smoky Cannabis Co. operates a 20,000-square-foot marijuana dispensary in Cherokee, North Carolina, on land belonging to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The tribe is exercising its sovereign rights to establish a large-scale cannabis business, including cultivation and retail sales, despite the federal prohibition on marijuana.
- Great Smoky Cannabis Co. opened its doors in 2026.
