byadminJul 1, 2024NEWS kanoheda0 comments. By SCOTT MCKIE B.P. One Feather Asst. Editor. . CHEROKEE, N.C. Three weeks after passing legislation banning individuallyowned hempcannabis stores on the tribal trust lands of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Dinilawigi Tribal Council has reversed that decision. Robert Mark Bertie Saunooke, an EBCI tribal member and owner of two hempCBD stores in Cherokee, submitted a protest to Dinilawigi onOrd. No. 63 2024which was passed on June 6. That protest, which dealt with two floor amendments added to Ord. No. 63, was heard during a special session of Dinilawigi on Thursday, June 27. In a protest letter to Dinilawigi Chairman Mike Parker, Saunooke wrote, This floor amendment has the effect of shutting down all privately owned hemp stores on the Qualla Boundary. As an enrolled member of the EBCI and an interested party in this ordinance change, I hereby protest the floor amendment to the ordinance affecting hemp stores. . I am an interested party because I own two hempCBD stores. My stores, which sell hemp products under the name Native Cloud, are located in Saunooke Village and near the Subway restaurant on Tsalagi Road. If this ordinance is not changed, both of my stores will have to close. . During the session on June 27, Dinilawigi approved Res. No. 239 2024, submitted by Saunooke, which states, The new Cherokee Code Section 1774c if enacted will make illegal the private ownership of stores that sell hemp and hemp products; and outlawing private ownership of stores that sell hemp and hemp products will cause great financial burdens to enrolled members who own these stores. . Res. No. 239 offered amendments to Ord. No. 63 which added Section 17A1 through Section 17A7 dealing with the regulation of hemp products and stores. Nine Dinilawigi representatives voted to pass Res. No. 239 with Elawodi Yellowhill Rep. Tom Wahnetah abstaining and Kolanvyi Big Cove Rep. Perry Shell and Tsisqwohi Birdtown Rep. Jim Owle absent. After the resolution was approved, Dinilawigi then voted to pass the amended Ord. No. 63. Eight representatives voted to pass with Rep. Wahnetah and Aniwodihi Painttown Rep. Dike Sneed abstaining and Reps. Shell and Owle absent. Prior to the vote, Aniwodihi Painttown Rep. Michael Stamper, who offered the two floor amendments to the legislation on June 6, stated, I read Bertie s substitute floor amendment. I think its good. I think it speaks to what I was trying to get at which is the regulatory element of these hemp stores. I think it has a good footing going forward as to where we need to be headed. . Michael McConnell, EBCI attorney general, wished to clarify one piece of the legislation. So, we went from original, 10 plants. The floor amendment dropped us to four plants. . EBCI voters approved a referendum during the 2023 General Election on Sept. 7 which asked, Do you support legalizing the possession of and use of cannabis for persons who are at least twentyone 21 years old and require the EBCI Tribal Council to develop legislation to regulate the market? The referendum passed 2,464 yes to 1,057 no. Joey Owle, an EBCI tribal member, stated during the June 27 session, I think there is concern out there in the community. The community did vote overwhelmingly for an adultuse ordinance change, and I think Cherokee would be the only place in the United States with a cannabis law that doesn t allow people to grow their own plant. When we passed the medical law, it was the most rigid in the country at 42plus pages when most laws were 12, 15 pages we do have one of the most restrictive cannabis laws probably in the nation. . Ugvwiyuhi Principal Chief Michell Hicks commented, I went back and looked at what the people voted on and absolutely, it was overwhelming I think 68 percent is what I saw in the tally the vote was for the tribe to control just like we do alcohol. It wasn t to create cannabis shops throughout Cherokee. So, I didn t see any intent for entrepreneurial spirit within this. We ve invested millions of dollars in this particular investment. . McConnell echoed Ugvwiyuhi Hicks comments, That vote was precisely to have the tribe regulate the market regarding marijuana. And, I m coming to that issue from a regulatoryenforcement angle. I m not making any statement about whether its good for a person or not good for a person. . Ugvwiyuhi Hicks ratified Ord. No. 63 on Thursday, June 27. Cherokee, NC81 Sunny6:27 am8:50 pm EDTFeels like: 82 FWind: 4mphENEHumidity: 51Pressure: 30.05"HgUV index: 71 pm2 pm3 pm4 pm5 pm82 F84 F84 F84 F84 FFriSatSunMonTue86 F 66 F88 F 66 F88 F 68 F90 F 70 F91 F 70 FCherokee, NCweather forecast for tomorrow . Designed byElegant Themes Powered byWordPress
The Dinilawigi Tribal Council of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina has reversed the decision to ban individually-owned hemp and cannabis stores on tribal trust lands following a protest by a tribal member and store owner. The decision comes after a referendum in 2023 where voters approved legalizing cannabis for adult use. The new legislation aims to regulate the market for hemp and hemp products.