Ocracoke Cash Crop

The Hyde County board of commissioners is looking to take innovative measures in order to combat seasonal unemployment during the Winter months.

Ocracoke Island sees a drastically increased rate of unemployment during the winter months where the unemployment rate of 13.3% is nearly triple that of the national average. Ocracoke’s economy is based solely around fair-weather tourism, creating an economic see-saw that hurts many businesses and their viability throughout the year. One of Hyde County’s commissioners who requested anonymity stated that the board was looking to increase potential jobs through introducing agriculture to the secluded island.

“Due to growing pressure from the North Carolina government, we are voting on the idea of introducing a booming cash crop to Ocracoke’s Northern city limits,” stated Commissioner John Fletcher. “We are hoping that the introduction of a State-recognized medical marijuana field will help to create much-needed jobs and economic growth for the community of Ocracoke.”

The marijuana field location has been proposed for a site just northeast of the island’s local police department headquarters, in a wetland marsh area where the local law enforcement can keep a watchful eye.

“We feel this section of Ocracoke has been largely untapped for economic growth, and that the introduction of this much-needed crop will help to alleviate the strain felt through throughout the island community during the winter months,” added Mr. Fletcher.

The commissioner stated that the marshland would be drained and filled for this purpose only upon a unanimous vote during the next Board of Commissioners meeting, April 6th.