At least 65 people lined up in the early morning dark Saturday as the Cherokee prepared to open North Carolina’s first and only marijuana dispensary superstore to all adults.
“This is amazing to see so many people here,” James Bradley, Qualla Enterprises production manager, told The Charlotte Observer as he handed a free pack of rolling paper to each person in the line. Qualla Enterprises is the tribe’s cannabis subsidiary.
At 9 a.m., dispensary officials passed out T-shirts and non-infused chocolates and gummies to people waiting in the line. By the end of the hour, there were hundreds of people in line when the store opened at 10 a.m. The store offers 300 products at the dispensary.
The first customer arrived at 1 a.m., Keisha Bowman, a dispensary security supervisor said.
Planned Cherokee marijuana superstore in NC alarms Senators Tillis and Budd
Shawn and Deanna Allen of Waynesville were among the first half-dozen in line outside the store at U.S. 19 and Bingo Loop, near Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. They and most other early birds got there around 6:30 a.m., Shawn Allen said.
Toking a joint relaxes him after his 12-hour shifts as a forklift operator, he said.
Forrest Parker, Qualla Enterprises general manager, declined to say how much revenue the tribe anticipates from opening the dispensary to all adults.
He referred The Charlotte Observer to a consultant’s report last year which showed the dispensary could generate nearly $385 million in gross sales revenues in its first year with adult use. In its fifth year, that figure could soar to $843 million, according to the report.
‘I thank the Cherokee for doing this’
Deanna Allen said marijuana helps her debilitating nerve pain and other conditions. She takes a daily gummy.
“I’ve seen her balled up on the couch in pain,” her husband said.
Deanna Allen previously obtained a medical cannabis card from the tribe’s Cannabis Control Board to allow her to buy product at the dispensary, called Great Smoky Cannabis Company.
The tribal council later voted to open sales at the dispensary to everyone, and without the requirement of a patient card. On April 21, sales opened to all adult members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and all other federally recognized tribes.
As of 10 a.m. Saturday, sales expanded to every adult wherever they’re from. Marijuana remains illegal in North Carolina, so N.C. residents could be charged with a crime if they take product off the tribe’s 57,000-acre Qualla Boundary and other lands, tribal officials have said.
“This is a positive day for us,” Tom Hansen of Western North Carolina said as he sat in a foldout chair waiting for the dispensary to open. “I thank the Cherokee for doing this.”
Hansen said it’s time N.C. legislators legalize adult use, too.
‘Setting the gold standard’
At noon, dozens of cars were backed up onto U.S. 19 trying to enter the dispensary parking lot and a nearby lot that was likewise full.
Parker said he expected the strong turnout based on market data locally and across the state and nation.
“The data has always said this was a strong opportunity, that people in this community, area and state support this,” Parker said at the dispensary. “Recent polls in the state show 70% support for adult use cannabis, some 80%. There’s never been a vote for (adult use) cannabis as strong as it was in Cherokee with the nationally historic vote (in September 2023).”
“You want to be cautious, conservative,” Parker said. “We make our decisions based with longevity in mind and how best to impact our community for years to come. And today gives us confidence that we made the right decision.”
The turnout validates that the Cherokee “can continue on this journey with a whole lot of confidence, building customer relationships and setting the gold standard for what regulated cannabis really should look like,” Parker said.
Qualla Enterprises contracts with Kaycha Labs, a national, certified, independent, third-party lab to test its products, he said.
“That’s the key,” Parker said. “Health and safety is paramount. We’re doing this with community, for community and by community, and health and safety is the absolute key as to why regulated cannabis is so important.”
Staff photographer Melissa Rodriguez contributed.
Source Agencies
