At least 65 people lined up Saturday morning as Cherokee prepared to open North Carolina’s first and only marijuana grocery store to all adults.
“It’s great to see so many people here,” James Bradley, production manager for Qualla Enterprises, told The Charlotte Observer as he handed everyone in line a free pack of rolling papers. Qualla Enterprises is the cannabis subsidiary of the tribe.
At 9 a.m., pharmacy employees were handing out T-shirts and non-infused chocolates and gummies to people waiting in line. By the end of the hour, hundreds of people were in line when the store opened at 10 a.m.
Shawn and Deanna Allen of Waynesville were among the first six in line outside the store at U.S. 19 and Bingo Loop, near Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. They and other early risers arrived around 6:30 a.m., Shawn Allen said.
He says smoking a joint relaxes him after his 12-hour shift as a forklift driver.
“I thank the Cherokee for doing this”
Deanna Allen said marijuana helps her crippling nerve pain and other conditions. She takes a gummy daily.
“I saw her curled up on the couch in pain,” her husband said.
Deanna Allen had previously obtained a medical cannabis card from the tribe’s Cannabis Control Board so she could purchase products from 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 ID. On April 21, sales were opened to all adult members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and all other federally recognized tribes.
From 10am on Saturday morning, the sale will be extended to all adults, regardless of where they come from.
“This is a positive day for us,” said Tom Hansen of Western North Carolina as he sat in a fold-out chair waiting for the dispensary to open. “I thank the Cherokee for doing this.”
Press photographer Melissa Rodriguez contributed.
This is a developing story and will be updated as time goes on.
