A closer look at Great Smoky Cannabis Company in Cherokee, North Carolina
Cherokee is home to one of Western North Carolina’s most distinctive new enterprises.
Great Smoky Cannabis Company opened in 2024 on the Qualla Boundary, the sovereign territory of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Operated by Qualla Enterprises, an entity of the Eastern Band, the business reflects Cherokee self-determination, careful planning and investment in new economic opportunities.
A Cherokee-owned and regulated operation
Great Smoky Cannabis Company began medical sales in April 2024 before expanding access to adults age 21 and older under laws enacted by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
The business operates under tribal law and the oversight of the EBCI Cannabis Control Board. Its seed-to-sale system tracks products through cultivation, processing, laboratory testing and retail.
Products must pass applicable quality-assurance testing before reaching the sales floor. Depending on the product, testing may evaluate potency, pesticides, heavy metals, microbial contaminants and other quality measures.
For visitors, that system creates a professional and informative experience. Staff members can explain product labels, testing information, potency and applicable tribal rules. The focus is on helping adults understand what they are viewing and make informed personal decisions.
The larger operation also supports employment, specialized career development and economic activity within the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Its significance reaches beyond the storefront. Great Smoky Cannabis Company is a tribally owned enterprise created and regulated by a sovereign nation.
Meet the Great Smoky Cannabis Company team
The people behind the operation share a closer look at their work, answer common questions and explain what visitors should know.
What visitors should know
Great Smoky Cannabis Company is located at 91 Bingo Loop Road in Cherokee. Entry and purchases are limited to adults age 21 and older with a valid government-issued photo ID.
The Qualla Boundary has its own laws and regulations. Once visitors leave tribal land, state and federal laws apply. A purchase made legally on the Qualla Boundary may not be lawful to possess or transport elsewhere.
This is especially important in the Smokies, where tribal, state and federal lands are close neighbors. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway and national forests are federal lands.
Public use and impaired driving are prohibited or restricted under applicable laws. Visitors should check current policies with Great Smoky Cannabis Company before arriving, since laws, hours and operating details may change.
Appalachian Growers: A different product and experience
Franklin-based Appalachian Growers represents another part of the region’s plant-based industry.
The family-operated company specializes in hemp-derived products with a strong focus on CBD. These are different from the products sold through Great Smoky Cannabis Company’s tribally regulated operation.
Appalachian Growers cultivates hemp in Western North Carolina and sells primarily online and through participating retailers. The company follows a seed-to-shelf process and submits its batches for third-party laboratory testing. Test results are documented through certificates of analysis, allowing customers to review cannabinoid content and other reported findings.
Its story is one of local agriculture, careful production and transparency. Product information is educational and should not be considered medical advice.
A helpful stop in Hayesville
Bauer Brand at 43 Main Street in Hayesville offers an in-person introduction to hemp-derived products.
The shop places a strong emphasis on education. Staff members help visitors understand terminology, labels, product formats and testing information in plain language. It is a practical stop for adults who have questions and prefer a face-to-face conversation.
An industry rooted in place
Great Smoky Cannabis Company stands at the center of this Southern Smokies story. Its scale draws attention, but its Cherokee ownership, professional testing and tribal oversight provide the greater reason to take notice.
Appalachian Growers and Bauer Brand offer brief glimpses into the region’s broader hemp industry, each with its own products and customer experience.
Together, these businesses show how local agriculture, education and tribal enterprise are taking root in the mountains. The subject may be new to some visitors, but the regional values behind it are familiar: knowledge, responsibility and respect for place.
Meet the Great Smoky Cannabis Company team and learn more before visiting.