http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-marijuana-indians-20141211-story.html BusinessU.S. Department of Justice The Justice Department will generally not try to enforce federal marijuana laws on Native American reservation 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."
it should send that message, because the fed gov are a bunch of hypocritical douche bags no one in their right minds should ever follow. many of the so called leaders of our country will be on their way out real soon so don't sweat the small stuff. btw MJ cannot even be compared to alcohol, since alcohol is toxic and MJ not, but you'll see many in law enforcement defend their bread basket to the end. you know what an out of work cop\\fed looks like in a neighborhood? me neither but we'll be seeing a lot of them soon enough. hahahaha
I could see the Native Americans doing this just because they are so poor and have no commerce. Its very tempting for them just like casinos and gambling. What it means though is that there could be legal places on rez to buy pot even though its illegal in that state. Could set up a stickly situation for state and local authorities.
not really a state problem since they have no jurisdiction on any federally recognized reservation. federally recognized reservations are considered a sovereign nation to the state, only feds can get involved.
The state problem is for when people drive into the reservation and hang out for a while, buy some bud, then drive off the reservation. States that don't like it will line the exit with 10 state troopers who could follow you and just wait for any sort of motor vehicle violation, and then arrest you for possession. There is definitely going to be a bad sticky grey area in states where it is illegal, but will hopefully be a push to make it legal federally since they will deal with issues from this.
They are both intoxicants which is all the indians need. they cannot handle the ones that are legal. I would watch what you ask for.
How am i being racist? Indians have it tough on the reservations. I worked with tribal police for years. it was sad to see but I do not pity them. But that is just my experience with the Tohono odom (sp) tribe and a few others. If the truth makes me a racist, I am guilty. Since you brought up racism, the indians make you pay taxes because you do not belong to their tribe when you buy something. That is a racist policy don't you think? You can discriminate because of the color of one's skin. It should not be accepted anywhere. Don't you agree?
There's still a huge demand so the prices will stay the same for a quite some time. As long as the demand keeps growing you can expect the cost/price to also grow.
"which is all the indians need" you successfully stereo typed indian people in that statement alone. why is it all the indians need? why wouldn't it also be what all the whites need? alcohol is only a problem because of poverty and a shity global society and not because we are indian people. we are not more or less than any other race.
Well, you can refute the psychologist and the geneticists and the federal police and the tribal police and the tribal councils all you want. the indians know they have a problem, if they can recognize it then I can too. the most hateful thing one d=can do is ignore their problems. if you must throw racist on every anti-indian comment or cannot handle the truth, stay out of the debate. Tyranny and fear flourish where ignorance is reigns. Do not stay ignorant and do not live in fear. You are probably programmed to scream racism when some one says something bad about indians, i forgive you. you are a product of modern education and I am sure will be a productive member of society. Stay high and if you love the indians you will support them in their war against intoxication. 1 in 7 indian deaths from alcohol induced infanticide. I could go one from statistics but I am not sure you would appreciate the 'epidemic" of drugs and alcohol in their society. that is a bit sad in itself. I am sorry you do not care enough to stand up for them.
If you work with the tribal police as you say then you would realize that alcholism is a form of self-medication. It's not the problem. What the problem is goes back decades and the treatment tribes dealt with from the government and the rampant racism they've experienced. Forced schooling where children were taken from their homes and put into boarding school. Schools that taught they were a degenerate people with a degenerate culture. They were beaten for speaking their own tongue. My own mother was placed in one of these boarding schools and she suffered from abusive faculty. Once they "graduate" they are sent back to their old homes without being able to speak their own language or know their own culture. Their own families didn't recognize them. This was an ongoing campaign to "Save the man and kill the indian". There is widespread dysfunction among tribes because of this treatment. I'm rather surprised you don't know this if you spent as much time with "indians" as you say you do.
whoo hoo! love to see the post again bro. prove it is an intoxicant pretty please kind sir/mam. we are waiting for the response proof will be posted soon ! maybe? yea man, someone connected with the earth will have infinite more knowledge and wisdom than someone connected to their political system and skin color. the crazy people running all over the planet to conform heathens is some of the stupidest shit going. they need to go to those folks and actually learn something not cram a bible down the native peoples throats. I asked a dude one time if someone cannot read their bible will they go to hell and he said yeah they will and that is why they are in that country to fix that. I looked at him with zero respect and lacking any common wisdom and prayed he would actually absorb some wisdom when in the other country.
That is really ignorant to generalize Native Americans as "poor". My great grandparents are full blood native americans and in no way do Native Americans see themselves as poor. These people live the life they choose to live and enjoy it.