American Indians Can Legally Grow and Sell Weed on Tribal Land, Says DOJ

24.59K

Andy Cush

12/12/14 01:15PM

Filed to: Weed

If American Indian tribes decide they want to grow and smoke and sell weed on their land, the U.S. Department of Justice said yesterday, then so be it.

As of this week, the DOJ is instructing U.S. attorneys not to prosecute the 566 federally recognized tribes for pot offenses, as long as they are following the same federal guidelines established for states like Washington and Colorado, where weed is legal. The amnesty applies even to Native American land in states where weed remains illegal.

The news, besides being a boon to Native Americans who enjoy a toke, could provide tribes with an economic boost, the way that casinos and tobacco sales have in the past. However, the Associated Press and Los Angeles Times report, several tribes are strongly opposed to the idea. From the AP:

Seattle attorney Anthony Broadman, whose firm represents tribal governments throughout the West, said the economic potential is vast. "If tribes can balance all the potential social issues, it could be a really huge opportunity," Broadman said.
But many in Indian Country are wary of compounding existing drug and alcohol problems by growing and selling pot.

The Yakama Nation in weed-legal Washington is one such tribe, having recently banned possession of the plant on its land, the AP notes. According to U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall, three tribes—in Washington, California, and "the midwest,"—have expressed interest in establishing a cannabis market.

[Photo: Dave H/Flickr]

The following replies are approved. To see additional replies that are pending approval, click Show Pending. Warning: These may contain graphic material.

25

Kandle55 Andy Cush 12/12/14 01:40PM

I'm not sure how I feel about this. I can see the money making opportunities. Earlier this year a local group was collecting signatures to go to the tribal council and get weed legalized, they said we could make a trillion dollars a year. I think we could make money, but not that much money.

That said, weed/alcohol/meth are still big problems (though I know that weed is nothing compared to alcohol and meth) and I worry about this whole culture of substance abuse we have going and it's not like people on meth are going to be like "oh, I'll just switch to weed" or the alcoholics will stop drinking. We have this culture that has sort of normalized intoxication/drug abuse and I don't want to do anything to carry that further. On the other hand, weed is already so common that it being illegal or legal seems irrelevant anymore. Like I said, mixed feelings.

10

bassguitarhero Kandle55 12/12/14 01:45PM

States that have legalized marijuana have seen a significant decrease in alcohol sales and alcohol-related deaths and injuries. Swapping out one drug for another isn't the most ideal step forward, but for the sake of doing less harm, it's still a step forward.

2

Eric the RC guy Kandle55 12/12/14 01:48PM

Thank you for sharing your side of the story. Someone bring this comment out of the grays.

2

cyberathena Kandle55 12/12/14 02:00PM

On top of that, if it's legalized in a state where it's not, it may bring some shady characters into the reservations which could possibly introduce another level of exploitation...

1

Kandle55 bassguitarhero 12/12/14 02:02PM

We have an extremely dysfunctional relationship with alcohol. I don't know if what has happened in other states would happen here. I don't think there would be a swap out because alcoholism has such a grip on so many people. If weed did replace alcohol, I agree it would be for the best. I'm just not sure that would ever happen.

15

UniqueBell Andy Cush 12/12/14 01:28PM

Indian Country

You mean from Chile to Alaska?

1

I O.J. Simpson'd that white pussy UniqueBell 12/12/14 01:54PM

>implying "Indian" is one single ethnicity, people, nation, country or identity.

You're grossly simplifying them.

2

UniqueBell I O.J. Simpson'd that white pussy 12/12/14 02:07PM

I didn't use that language. It was the guy writing for the AP. My point is that everything between Alaska and Chile belongs to the Indigenous people of the Americas. I'm aware of the diversity amongst the First Nations of Canada for example. My neighbourhood's name, for example, is a Mississauga (or Anishinaabe) word for the passenger pigeon. Sadly, they took everything around here from them, much in the same way Europeans looted and destroyed Africans.

James I O.J. Simpson'd that white pussy 12/12/14 02:13PM

So there weren't people living from Chile to Alaska in the precolumbian Americas?

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Abatnia UniqueBell 12/12/14 05:13PM

You're technically right, there are peoples from Alaska to Chile who are ingigenous and not all of us use the descriptor of "Indian," or "American Indian" in the US.

However, while our tribes and villages in the U.S. are vastly different, we collectively use the term Indian Country when speaking about all of our tribes and villages together.

For example, I am Inupiat (Alaska Native), and we're don't fall into the category of American Indian. But when I speak about collective Native issues, that affect indigenous folks from Alaska to Oklahoma, I use the term Indian Country. So does my friend who is Lakota, or Navajo, or Choctaw.

15

Bungholio47 Andy Cush 12/12/14 01:21PM

"But many in Indian Country are wary of compounding existing drug and alcohol problems by growing and selling pot."

Because we still think pot is as bad as meth or heroin.

20

GlutenFree Bungholio47 12/12/14 01:23PM

Are you going to lecture them about their own drug and alcohol problems?

2

VinegarStrokes Bungholio47 12/12/14 01:33PM

I'd guess its mainly because they would get more money if they sell pot, then they could buy more gas to huff.

1

Mr. Lahey VinegarStrokes 12/12/14 01:47PM

Gold spray paint will get you fucked up my man. About the same price and may last a little longer than a dimebag of some nice green with the added bonus of destroying your brain. Good call.

Bungholio47 GlutenFree 12/12/14 01:50PM

Not my point, I guess?

7

crochetmeme Andy Cush 12/12/14 01:25PM

Oh, this could be really a big deal for the tribes. As for worries about alcohol, that's a no-brainer. Replacing a horribly destructive drug with one that - for the most part - calms and pacifies its users is a positive step forward.

2

Catnado crochetmeme 12/12/14 01:35PM

Its the cycle of dependency in an economically challenged area that is more the rather legit concern. However, pot can be a great transitional tool for those who have difficulty with straight cold turkey. The problem is then getting unstuck from a dependency on getting high.

When you're a middle-class white person the last bit is a lot easier.

However, the economic benefit could really prove huge and could potentially outweigh the risks. That's for the communities to decide, really. I do wonder what issue they'll have with crossing borders.

2

GlutenFree Catnado 12/12/14 01:42PM

Yeah, a lot of people who are struggling with addiction on reservations aren't stumbling because they just need a little something to help them over the hump. It's the most tragic ruthless addiction you can imagine.

THAT SAID, I agree that the economic boon, for the tribes that want to go there, is probably the thing most likely to help those struggling the most since abject poverty is underlying many of the addiction issues.

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kappakai crochetmeme 12/12/14 02:07PM

Dunno if "calms and pacifies" is an appropriate phrase here

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storymark Catnado 12/12/14 02:53PM

It is a legit concern, but I don't see having a less harmful alternative as a negative. And a boost to the economy might improve the standard of living such that not as many would be tempted to harder escapes.