How a Tribe Defied the United States Authorities by Openly Selling Cannabis

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has opened the Great Smoky Cannabis Company, a seed-to-sale cannabis operation, in Cherokee North Carolina.

This is significant because marijuana is illegal in North Carolina, but the tribe has sovereign authority over their land and can legalise cannabis on their territory.

Myrtle Driver, an 80-year-old tribal member, made the first purchase at the superstore, using traditional wampum beads as currency. This venture is a unique example of Indigenous economic development and sovereignty in the cannabis industry.

The opening of the Great Smoky Cannabis Company was a momentous occasion, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds and political beliefs.

The crowd of 800 customers, including Indigenous, black, and white individuals, some with mobility aids and others travelling from far away, showed the strong demand for regulated legal cannabis.

The fact that it's only legal on the tribe's territory highlights the unique aspect of Indigenous sovereignty and the tribe's ability to establish their own laws and regulations. The event demonstrated a sense of community and support for this new venture, which is not only a business but also a symbol of tribal autonomy and economic development.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is exercising its inherent sovereignty by opening a cannabis superstore on their territory, despite marijuana being illegal in North Carolina. This move asserts their right to self-govern and make their own laws, free from state authority.

The tribe's actions have sparked a debate about the limits of tribal sovereignty and whether federal or state authority should prevail on Indigenous land. Some Republican legislators in North Carolina are pushing for federal intervention, while others see this as a bold assertion of tribal autonomy.

John Oceguera, a cannabis lobbyist and former Nevada legislator from the Walker River Paiute tribe, calls it a "sovereign flex" - a demonstration of the tribe's ability to govern themselves and make decisions about their own land. This issue highlights the complex and often contentious relationship between tribal nations, states, and the federal government.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/ 
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