Will recreational marijuana be legal in NC? What to know after Cherokee approved sales

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A recent social media update from Cherokee, the site of North Carolina's first and only cannabis dispensary, announced that adult-use recreational marijuana is coming soon.

The Aug. 1 post is a landmark occasion. The Great Smoky Cannabis Co., run by Qualla Enterprises backed by the Eastern Band of Cherokee, will become the first N.C. recreational marijuana dispensary to fully open to adults over the age of 21.

Is recreational weed legal in North Carolina?

Until the full opening, slated for Sept. 7 according to the recent post, the dispensary sells their wide variety of cannabis products only to those over 21 with a tribal ID or medical marijuana card.

While marijuana is not legal for recreational or medical use in N.C., a popular loophole in hemp legislation has made it possible to get legally stoned.

States where legal recreational marijuana has been approved:

There are currently 26 states where where legal recreational marijuana has been approved. The states include:

1. Colorado
2. Washington
3. Alaska
4. Oregon
5. Washington, D.C.
6. California
7. Maine
8. Massachusetts
9. Nevada
10. Michigan
11. Vermont
12. Guam
13. Illinois
14. Arizona
15. Montana
16. New Jersey
17. New York
18. Virginia
19. New Mexico
20. Connecticut
21. Rhode Island
22. Maryland
23. Missouri
24. Delaware
25. Minnesota
26. Ohio