From Casinos To Cannabis: Indian Tribes Eye Pot Profits
Tribal leaders explore the business opportunities created by the erosion of marijuana prohibition.
Last month I spoke at a conference in Washington state on the intersection between tribal law and newly legal marijuana markets. In my latest Forbes column, I explain how tribal sovereignty creates cannabusiness opportunities:
Last December the Justice Department gave a yellow light to marijuana legalization on tribal land, saying it would treat reservations like states in deciding how to enforce the Controlled Substances Act. Two months later, the very first Tribal Marijuana Conference, held at the Tulalip Resort Casino in Washington, attracted about 250 people, including representatives from 75 or so Indian tribes. They listened intently as speakers (including me) discussed the pros and cons of legalization.
"A great deal more are considering this than I thought would be considering it," Ken Meshigaud, chairman of the Hannahville Indian Community in Michigan, told the Associated Press. "From an economic standpoint, it may be a good venture the tribes can get into." Because of their sovereign status, Indian tribes are uniquely positioned to profit from the erosion of marijuana prohibition, although they still face some daunting legal pitfalls.