The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation begins adult-use cannabis sales!

In September 2023, the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation approved a referendum to legalize adults’ possession, cultivation, and purchase of cannabis on tribal lands in a 70-30% vote. The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation’s lands are within the borders of North Carolina, making this the first time voters in the southern United States voted to legalize adult-use cannabis. The first adult-use sales — to both tribal members and other adults who are 21 or older — began on September 7, 2024.

In 2021, the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation passed decriminalization and medical cannabis. The medical program and dispensary launched on April 20, 2024, for tribal members and North Carolinians who qualify. Outside of Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation’s lands, however, North Carolina remains far behind the times — lacking medical cannabis and adult-use legalization, and having one of the weakest “decriminalization” laws in the nation.

N.C. House of Representatives fail to act on medical cannabis bill again

The North Carolina Senate passed a medical cannabis bill in 2023 — for the second year in a row. However, the House of Representatives again adjourned their 2023-2024 legislative session without taking up the legislation. Veterans and suffering patients will have to wait at least another year. 

On March 1, 2023, the North Carolina Senate passed S. 3, the North Carolina Compassionate Care Act, sponsored by Sen. Bill Rabon (R), by a vote of 36-10.

Tim Moore, the Republican Speaker of the House, said the House would “study” the bill. However, S. 3 was never even scheduled for a committee hearing in the House in 2024. Speaker Moore said the House failed to take up the bill because it did not have majority support within the Republican caucus. However, there is no such rule for legislation to be taken up, but rather is a policy being adopted by the current Republican House leader.  Speaker Moore retired from the NH House to run for United States Congress in November, so North Carolina will have a new speaker next term. 

Supportive senators added medical cannabis language into a House-passed bill that would have regulated the kratom and hemp markets. However, the House failed to act on the amended version of that legislation as well.

Due to this inaction, North Carolina continues to be an outlier, as one of only 12 states that have not enacted a medical cannabis program in the country. In a January 2021 poll, Elon University found 73% of North Carolinians supported medical cannabis. In a May 2022 poll, support had increased to 82% with strong bipartisan support. The latest polling in 2024 now shows 95% of support for changing the state's cannabis laws. Legalization (62%) and 32% for medical only- with only 5% supporting the current policy of prohibition. North Carolinians continue to want a medical program implemented. Please inform your legislators that you support medical cannabis.

Task force recommends decriminalization

In 2020, a task force convened by Gov. Roy Cooper (D) to study racial inequities in the criminal justice system recommended the state further decriminalize marijuana possession. While we technically consider North Carolina a “decriminalization” state because a first offense does not carry jail time, under current law, possession remains a class 1 misdemeanor, which carries an up to a $200 fine. Let your legislators know no one should have a criminal record for simple possession of cannabis, and ask them to support ending prohibition.

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