North Carolina
Recreational marijuana legal for tribal members in North Carolina
CHEROKEE, N.C. — Recreational marijuana is now legal for Cherokee tribal members and other federally recognized tribe members in North Carolina.
Sales began on July 4th at Great Smoky Cannabis Company within the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ land. This is located near Asheville.
With about 14,000 members, the Eastern Band can pass rules permitting cannabis as a sovereign nation and federally recognized tribe.
While many in the region say they support recreational sales, they worry people will buy it and take it outside tribal land. Marijuana remains illegal in the state.
Republican U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd have raised concerns with federal and state law enforcement about whether drug laws will continue to be carried out in light of the dispensary.
A statewide medical marijuana bill has been considered in recent years by the North Carolina General Assembly.
WATCH | NC lawmakers consider legalizing medical marijuana
Access to medical marijuana could become a reality in North Carolina if some state lawmakers have their way.
‘Change the trajectory’
Starting in April, medical marijuana can be purchased on Cherokee land in North Carolina.
Adults at least 21 years of age with a tribal medical cannabis patient card or an out-of-state approved medical marijuana card can purchase items at Great Smoky Cannabis Co.
Hundreds of people, many with approved medical patient cards to purchase items, celebrated the historic opening of the dispensary on April, or ‘420 Day’.
The ceremony marks the latest liberalization of marijuana rules by the tribe, which in 2021 decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana within its 89 square miles (231 square kilometers) of land in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The tribe also formed a medical marijuana system that included a tribe-created business to grow cannabis and sell it, reaping financial rewards for the tribal members and assisting those with medical conditions.
“This project will change the trajectory of their lives forever,” Forrest Parker, general manager for Qualla Enterprises, the tribal company that manages the dispensary, said during the opening ceremony. “It will be a conduit to generations of social, economic and spiritual growth, unlike anything that’s ever been witnessed.”
The dispensary could generate over $200 million in gross sales revenues in its first year if limited to medical patients, compared with $385 million if the product is available to all adult users, according to figures from Qualla Enterprises released before last year’s adult-use referendum.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2024 ABC11-WTVD-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved – The Associated Press contributed to this report.
North Carolina
North Carolina Republican operative shaping the state’s early voting plans is reassigned
North Carolina state Auditor Dave Boliek has reassigned a staffer working on state election preparations following reporting illustrating how the longtime Republican operative was using his position to shape county’s early voting plans.
North Carolina
North Carolina man accused of shooting and killing another tourist inside of a Broward Airbnb, police say
A Fourth of July trip to South Florida ended in tragedy after a 21-year-old North Carolina man was shot and killed inside a Hollywood Airbnb, according to police.
Investigators say Jaydon Williams, 21, was shot multiple times early Saturday morning at a vacation rental in the 1900 block of Funston Street. Hollywood police have arrested 21-year-old Devian Blount, also of North Carolina, and charged him with first-degree murder.
Officers responded to the home around 1 a.m. Saturday, following reports of a shooting. They arrived to find Williams suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to Memorial Regional Hospital, where he died.
According to the arrest report, Williams was on a FaceTime call with his girlfriend at the time of the shooting. She told investigators she heard someone accuse Williams of stealing, followed by a verbal argument and several gunshots.
The incident has left neighbors shaken in the typically quiet Hollywood community. While some residents noted they were aware that the home operated as a short-term rental, others expressed concerns about the property’s transient nature.
“That’s a bad idea to me to have an Airbnb in this neighborhood where so many people and kids live,” said neighbor Dorell Green. “Different types of people come and go. You don’t know who is coming or leaving.”
Ivette Santana, another resident, said her primary concern is the violence. “I don’t care about the Airbnb,” Santana said. “My problem is the shooting over there.”
Blount is being held without bond at the Broward County Jail.
CBS News Miami has contacted Airbnb to determine if the property remains in operation. We are also working to contact the property’s owners.
The video above is a live stream of WBTV and affiliated programming, and may not be directly related to the article below.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – A sickness causing explosive diarrhea across the United States has been reported in North Carolina.
State health officials confirmed on Tuesday, July 7, that at least 145 cases of cyclosporiasis had been reported in North Carolina since May 1.
According to the state’s health website, cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a parasite known as cyclospora. Sickness is often brought on by consuming food or water that is contaminated with the parasite.
The state’s website says it usually takes a week for symptoms to show up after consuming the contaminated food or water.
Among the symptoms are:
- Watery diarrhea with frequent, sometimes explosive bowel movements
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Stomach cramps/pain
- Bloating
- Increased gas
- Nausea
- Fatigue
Health officials said cyclospora is often associated with fresh herbs and produce that are served uncooked. They said because those items often go uncooked, it is imperative for them to be cleaned prior to eating.
According to the CDC, healthy people who contract cyclosporiasis usually recover without treatment but may have symptoms for a few days to a month or longer. In other cases, the sickness can be treated with antibiotics.
As of mid-June, the CDC reported cyclosporiasis cases in 17 states. At that point, no deaths had been reported.
Also Read: One US state is now reporting 700+ cases of ‘explosive’ diarrhea linked to parasite
Copyright 2026 WBTV. All rights reserved.
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