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Cherokee Today
By the People, for the People
Cherokee Tribe Opens Marijuana Dispensary on Tribal Land
Great Smoky Cannabis Co. operates a 20,000-square-foot facility under sovereign law.
Apr. 15, 2026 at 10:15am
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The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' sovereign cannabis business offers a premium retail experience for customers seeking legal marijuana products.Cherokee TodayThe Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has opened a large-scale cannabis business called Great Smoky Cannabis Co. on tribal land in Cherokee, North Carolina. The 20,000-square-foot marijuana dispensary operates under the tribe's sovereign law, defying federal prohibition.
Why it matters
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' cannabis business represents a growing trend of Native American tribes leveraging their sovereign status to establish legal marijuana industries, even as the drug remains federally prohibited. This highlights the complex legal landscape surrounding cannabis and the ongoing tensions between tribal, state, and federal jurisdictions.
The details
Great Smoky Cannabis Co. operates a 20,000-square-foot marijuana dispensary in Cherokee, North Carolina, on land belonging to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The tribe is exercising its sovereign rights to establish a large-scale cannabis business, including cultivation and retail sales, despite the federal prohibition on marijuana.
- Great Smoky Cannabis Co. opened its doors in 2026.
The players
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
A federally recognized Native American tribe that operates the Great Smoky Cannabis Co. marijuana dispensary on its tribal lands in North Carolina.
Great Smoky Cannabis Co.
A 20,000-square-foot marijuana dispensary operated by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on its tribal lands in Cherokee, North Carolina.
The takeaway
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' decision to open a large-scale cannabis business on its sovereign tribal lands highlights the ongoing tensions between federal, state, and tribal jurisdictions when it comes to marijuana legalization. This move by the tribe represents a growing trend among Native American communities to leverage their sovereign status to establish legal cannabis industries, even as the drug remains prohibited at the federal level.
