In December of last year the Department of Justice issued a memo which cleared the way for the nation's 566 recognized Indian tribes to legalize hemp or marijuana on their lands. On Thursday, the Santee Sioux tribe in Flandreu, SD became the first tribe to vote in favor of growing and selling marijuana by a vote of 5-1 in their executive committee.
They are hoping to have a facility in place by fall of this year where marijuana can be purchased and consumed. Marijuana will not be allowed to leave the facility.
Of course, the state's Attorney General was quick to assert his authority:
Despite the ordinance's passage, Attorney General Marty Jackley said it is still illegal for non-natives to be under the influence of marijuana. Santee Sioux officials said that tribal membership is not required to purchase and use marijuana.
It's not clear what steps the state will take against non-native marijuana consumption on tribal lands, but I imagine there will be a cordon of state troopers and deputies surrounding them with drug checkpoints and mobile drug testing labs.
But I'm still heartened by the news and if other tribes follow suit, there could soon be legally available marijuana all over the US. If only the federal government would concede to the will of the people and end the destructive and expensive War on Marijuana.
http://www.keloland.com/...