North Carolina’s first medical cannabis dispensary opens for business

QUALLA BOUNDARY, N.C. (WLOS) — Saturday, April 20, marks a historic day for North Carolina as the first medical cannabis dispensary held its grand opening in Cherokee.

A ribbon cutting was held at 9:30 a.m. outside The Great Smoky Cannabis Dispensary, located at 91 Bingo Loop Road in the Qualla Boundary.

FIRST LOOK: EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS’ HISTORIC MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAUNCH

People all across the mountains were lined up outside, eagerly waiting to purchase the Eastern Band of Indians’ packaged cannabis.

The company offers about 40 different products, from vape pens, pre-packaged buds, and marijuana cigarettes to edibles and gummies. They’re all produced locally from marijuana grown and processed at the Cooper’s Creek Farm.

QUALLA ENTERPRISES’ GREAT SMOKY CANNABIS CO. SET TO OPEN APRIL 20

Forrest Parker, the general manager for the Great Smoky Cannabis Company, said that they are always striving to improve the quality of their products.

“The first legal, regulated, safe cannabis to be sold within the boundaries of North Carolina,” Parker said. “We’re very proud to set the bar in quality and in health and safety.”

EBCI WILL OPEN HISTORIC NC MEDICAL CANNABIS DISPENSARY, BUT IS DISCUSSING ADULT USE

To have access to the dispensary, you have a medical patient’s card.

The tribe will only accept EBCI’s Cannabis Control Board, another tribe’s Medical Cannabis Patient Card, or a reciprocal state’s medical patient card. You must also be at least 21 to enter the dispensary and sign in.

This story will be updated.