tly, the dispensary has 50 employees
North Carolina’s First Cannabis Dispensary Set to Open on Tribal Land
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) is making history by opening North Carolina’s first cannabis dispensary on tribal land. The dispensary, called Great Smoky Cannabis Company, will officially open its doors on April 20, marking a significant milestone for the state.
Qualla Boundary: The Home of the EBCI Tribe
The EBCI tribe, which is based in North Carolina, resides on 57,000 acres of land known as the Qualla Boundary. This is where the Great Smoky Cannabis Company will be located, providing safe and regulated access to medical cannabis products for patients.
Quality, Compassion, and Education at Great Smoky Cannabis Co.
In a press release published by Qualla Enterprises, LLC, the company emphasized its commitment to quality, compassion, and education. The dispensary will offer a variety of high-quality tested products, including flower, vape products, edibles, topicals, and more, to meet the diverse needs of patients. The product selection will continue to expand and evolve each month.
Exclusive Access for Medical Cannabis Patients
Only current medical cannabis cardholders, issued directly by the EBCI Cannabis Control Board, who are over 21 years old will be able to purchase products from the dispensary. However, out-of-state patients with valid medical cards or other tribal medical cannabis cards will also be welcome.
Card Registration and Approval Process
Medical cannabis card registration opened in June 2023, and the first cards were issued in October of that year. The board received 1,005 card applications and approved 817 of them.
From Bingo Hall to Cannabis Dispensary
The Great Smoky Cannabis Company will be located in a building that was once a bingo hall, not far from Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. The initial product lineup will include dried flower, vape-related items, edibles, and topicals, with plans to expand the selection over time.
Invitation for a Private Tour
In March 2023, the Charlotte Observer was invited for a private tour of the dispensary. At the time, Qualla Enterprises stated that only EBCI tribe members with approved medical cannabis cards would have access. However, as the dispensary grows, patients throughout North Carolina with medical cannabis cards will also be invited to shop.
Projected Revenue for Great Smoky Cannabis Company
Early projections from Qualla Enterprises estimate that the dispensary could generate up to $206 million in gross sales revenue during its first year of operation, solely from medical cannabis cardholders. If adult-use consumers are allowed to purchase, this number could increase to $385 million.
Future Growth and Job Opportunities
According to HedgeRow Analysis, by the fifth year of operation, the dispensary could collect $578 million from medical cannabis patients, or $843 million if adult-use consumers are allowed to purchase. This growth could also lead to more job opportunities, as approximately 1,400 people have already applied for cannabis-related jobs, despite there only being 350 openings at the time. Currently, the dispensary has 50 employees.
