http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-marijuana-indians-20141211-story.html U.S. won't stop Native Americans from growing, selling pot on their lands By TIMOTHY M. PHELPS 12/13/2014 Opening the door for what could be a lucrative and controversial new industry on some Native American reservations, the Justice Department on Thursday will tell U.S. attorneys to not prevent tribes from growing or selling marijuana on the sovereign lands, even in states that ban the practice. The new guidance, released in a memorandum, will be implemented on a case-by-case basis and tribes must still follow federal guidelines, said Timothy Purdon, the U.S. attorney for North Dakota and the chairman of the Attorney General's Subcommittee on Native American Issues. It once again sends a message that we really don't care about federal drug laws. - Kevin A. Sabet, an opponent of marijuana legalization and former advisor on drug issues to President Obama It remains to be seen how many reservations will take advantage of the policy. Many tribes are opposed to legalizing pot on their lands, and federal officials will continue to enforce the law in those areas, if requested. Southern California is home to nearly 30 federal- and state-recognized Indian tribes, with a total population of nearly 200,000, according to state estimates. The largest tribes operate profitable casinos and outlet malls, including those by the Morongo, Cabazon, San Manuel and Pechanga tribes. Representatives for several of the largest tribes could not be reached for comment. The policy comes on the heels of the 2013 Justice Department decision to stop most federal marijuana prosecutions in states that have legalized the possession or sale of pot. Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska and the District of Columbia have all moved to legalize the drug, though the D.C. law may be scaled back by Congress. Some tribes see marijuana sales as a potential source of revenue, similar to cigarette sales and casino gambling, which have brought a financial boon to reservations across the country. Others, including the Yakama Reservation in Washington state, remain strongly opposed to the sale or use of marijuana on their lands. Purdon said in an interview that the majority of Native American tribes, mindful of the painful legacy of alcohol abuse in their communities, appear to be against allowing marijuana use on their territory. The federal government will continue to legally support those tribes that wish to ban marijuana, even in states that now permit its sale, Purdon said. But the Justice Department will generally not attempt to enforce federal marijuana laws on federally recognized tribes that choose to allow it, as long as they meet eight federal guidelines, including that marijuana not be sold to minors and not be transported to areas that prohibit it. "The tribes have the sovereign right to set the code on their reservations," Purdon said. John Walsh, the U.S. attorney for Colorado, said a primary purpose of the memorandum to be released Thursday is to assure U.S. attorney offices and tribes that despite the changes in Justice Department policy announced last year, federal prosecutors still have the authority to prosecute marijuana felonies on tribal lands. In many cases, federal prosecutors are the only ones permitted by law to prosecute marijuana felonies on tribal lands. Walsh said that the new memorandum, like the one issued for states last year, emphasizes that states or reservations must have "robust and effective regulatory systems in place" and that federal prosecutors reserve the right to take broader enforcement actions. The policy is likely to be criticized in states opposed to marijuana sales, particularly those with Native American reservations. Kevin A. Sabet, an opponent of marijuana legalization and former advisor on drug issues to President Obama, called the policy an "extremely troubling development." "It once again sends a message that we really don't care about federal drug laws," he said. Sabet, director of the Drug Policy Institute at the University of Florida, said, "Native Americans and their families suffer disproportionately from addiction compared to other groups. The last thing they want is another commercialized industry that targets them for greater use."
Guess the Feds decided to hand over the US cannabis market to the Indians. Oddly suspicious...methinks there's something deeper here. An effort to reduce the current wave of small timers? Trying to thwart the control by Mexi cartels by setting up reservation based cartels? An attempt to derail State legalization efforts by introducing another player? Dunno, but I'd bet my last dollar there's another motivation the Feds aren't talking about.
:flipando: My head is spinning... Maybe its a population they can still regulate? The states have already written their own. I dunno about the overall effects on the market long term, but I know this - the NA's round these parts are already pumping out weed like walmart distribution centers. Infuse those operations with wall street money through regular commercial banks (no FDIC worries now) etc and watch out. Maybe its a way for uncle sam to cash in and jointhe fun while saving face? Notably, the policy makes little logical sense. Why would it be a schedule 1 drug for whitey, but not for the NA's? There are definitely racial implications here.
Figure with Casinos, untaxed cigs, and legal cannabis they got the whole vice investment angle monopolized. If cannabis is now legal on the Res...why not prostitution? Or manufacturing alcohol? Or Res made pharmacy drugs? It's an idiotic natural extension of bad law. My personal initial take is that the Feds want to reduce State income from taxes on cannibus, thereby removing one of the benefits and rationalizations local politicians have for supporting MMJ or legal use. Lots of folks drive long distances to save $10 on a carton of cigs. How far would they drive, and how many taxed weed outlets would they pass by, to save $100 on an ounce of weed? Loved this part What a crock of shit. Nobody had brought this up. Nobody has been pressing hard for a Supreme Court or State Supreme Court legal ruling. It simply appeared out of thin air...without the current Obama administration (the Boss himself) having any inkling it was about to happen. Or perhaps Attorney General Eric Holder giving a heads up to his boss (Obama) was out of the question? Bullshit! Holder is on his way out so the administration can pull any sort of shit they want and he can be the scapegoat. This has a pulse when looking for things that are out of place in politics. Ass covering by saying federal prosecutors are trying send a message of "authority" is simply embarrassing and insulting to anybodies intelligence. This has big league politics written all over it.
Wow, never seen this coming, I am, shit confused? Me want-em grow-em and sell-em pot! :roffl: Its only funny because i am crazy indian...well my kids really are. Some sort of DEA scheme is smelling here also...:icon_confused: Maybe not in the law part but behind the sceen doing something in preps for this. Def bad politics for sure.
Its not confuseing. MY property is on a reservation. Out here they do whatever they want. Gamble ect. The feds dont mess with the indians. The local cops dont either. Id get a kick out of this if they made it legal out here to grow. t6
Yep all us NA know about the red police and elder judges. They def want things their way. How did this get started is whats crazy, whos pushing for this if not just the Indiands, must be a money thing.
Alrighty there Christopher Columbus..they aren't indians.. :roffl: Native or indigenous people. An interesting loophole angle though I never knew about.
