SWAIN COUNTY, N.C. (FOX Carolina) – The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) has issued a response after North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis asked the Department of Justice to investigate their marijuana operation at a hearing with Attorney General Pam Bondi.

During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, the senator showed examples of marketing and packaging used for EBCI’s cannabis products. Sen. Tillis says he was worried that the tribe’s marketing is “preying on young people.” He also described an app where the products can allegedly be ordered. Sen. Tillis says he assumes that people pick up their orders by crossing the border into tribal lands.

Tillis also questioned how the tribe is transporting the marijuana from the grow operation to the dispensary, as they are on different, noncontiguous parts of tribal land that must be accessed by local and NC state roads.

Attorney General Bondi said she was not familiar with the EBCI’s marijuana operation, but that her team would look into Sen. Tillis’s concerns.

EBCI’s Principal Chief Michell Hicks issued a response to Tillis’ remarks, saying that he “mischaracterized the Tribe’s lawful and transparent activities related to the cultivation, transportation and marketing of cannabis products on EBCI lands…”

He said that operations are fully compliant with federal and tribal law and guided by safety, transparency and accountability.

His full response can be read here.

Senators Tillis and Tedd Budd previously sent a letter in 2024 to multiple federal officials to raise concerns about the ECBI and Qualla Enterprise LLC’s efforts to establish operations to produce and sell marijuana.

Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with FOX Carolina. For more free content like this, download our apps.

Copyright 2025 WHNS. All rights reserved.