CHEROKEE, N.C. — The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will issue medical marijuana cards this week that give people an opportunity to buy the first batch of legal marijuana in North Carolina.
This comes after a historic vote in September allowed people to buy and use marijuana on tribal land. Only enrolled tribal members will receive cards at first, then the doors will open for other North Carolina residents to apply.
According to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Cannabis Control Board, they’ve already received more than one thousand applications for patient cards.
"This is a great way to get their industry started for them, and to begin to improve the lives of their tribe and hopefully, with time, the [greater] North Carolina community," Kevin Caldwell, the Southeast legislative manager for the Marijuana Policy Project, said.
In 2021, the tribe decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana within the Eastern Band’s 57,000-acre (23,000-hectare) Qualla Boundary. It also formed a medical marijuana structure that includes a tribe-created business to grow cannabis and sell it in a large dispensary that remains under construction — making it the first and only place to legally purchase marijuana in North Carolina.
Caldwell said the move may include a message toward legislation when making a decision on medical marijuana.
"What the Cherokee Nation is doing right now is will help move the ball forward,” Caldwell said.
A bill in the North Carolina Senate estimated the state could make $15.1 million through medical marijuana if legalized. This revenue would mostly come from patient and caregiver card application fees, with the state also getting 10% of the gross revenue. By 2028, lawmakers estimated that figure could jump to $44.4 million.
Legalizing recreational marijuana could bring in even more money to the state. For example, in 2022, Colorado collected more than $325 million in cannabis tax revenue.
The board is in the process of issuing agent cards to control board employees and cannabis industry workers. They hope to issue patient cards within the next week.
WRAL contributed to this report.
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