Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Elko — Whether Nevada tribal councils will venture into the realm of selling recreational marijuana is up for question. Although many in the tribal communities argue that getting involved in the legal pot industry is against tribal values, many modern Native American leaders are poised and ready grab the goose with the golden egg.
One Nevada tribe has already geared up to get involved in the medical marijuana business and there's no telling what the future will hold for Native Americans and pot.
In late 2014 the U.S. Department of Justice put out a memo that allowed American Indian tribes to jump into the marijuana industry by growing and selling the drug on sovereign lands.
According to an article in lasvegasnow.com, the Las Vegas Paiute Indian Tribe started moving forward with the plan to build two medical marijuana dispensaries, three greenhouses larger than football fields, a warehouse for storage, and a production building to formulate the products. The cost to build these facilities is about $5 million.
The Main Street facility is scheduled to open this January, according to a report from news3lv.com.
The Paiutes partnered with Ultra Health, a company that has approached 20 other tribes in the West.
"This facility is a large facility," said Duke Rodriguez, founder and CEO of Ultra Health. "It is as large as anything you'll see in quality in Colorado, Arizona or New Mexico. This is a much larger facility, but again with your 43 million visitors here ultimately this may be one of the largest cannabis markets in the U.S."
Tribes growing and selling marijuana on reservations may not have to pay local taxes or state taxes. This opportunity opens up a very lucrative business and the ability to provide jobs for tribal members.
The large tourism industry in Las Vegas might tempt the Paiute and other Nevada tribes into branching into the recreational business due to the huge revenue potential.
Some argue that the long history of substance abuse connected with many Native populations is grounds for avoiding the industry altogether.
The Yakima Nation of Washington banned marijuana on the reservation. It is also trying to block applications for marijuana businesses on 12 million acres the tribe is entitled to use for hunting and fishing.
Rodriguez feels that the demand for marijuana is going to far surpass the economic tribal benefits that now come with their involvement in the gambling industry.
"There's just no way to stop this," he said.
Stacey Montooth, a spokesperson and member of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony said, "As far as the Reno-Sparks Colony is concerned, we are always looking for economic development opportunities."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Will Tribes Profit From Legal Recreational Marijuana?
Author: Cynthia Delaney
Contact: 775-738-3118
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Elko Daily Free Press
One Nevada tribe has already geared up to get involved in the medical marijuana business and there's no telling what the future will hold for Native Americans and pot.
In late 2014 the U.S. Department of Justice put out a memo that allowed American Indian tribes to jump into the marijuana industry by growing and selling the drug on sovereign lands.
According to an article in lasvegasnow.com, the Las Vegas Paiute Indian Tribe started moving forward with the plan to build two medical marijuana dispensaries, three greenhouses larger than football fields, a warehouse for storage, and a production building to formulate the products. The cost to build these facilities is about $5 million.
The Main Street facility is scheduled to open this January, according to a report from news3lv.com.
The Paiutes partnered with Ultra Health, a company that has approached 20 other tribes in the West.
"This facility is a large facility," said Duke Rodriguez, founder and CEO of Ultra Health. "It is as large as anything you'll see in quality in Colorado, Arizona or New Mexico. This is a much larger facility, but again with your 43 million visitors here ultimately this may be one of the largest cannabis markets in the U.S."
Tribes growing and selling marijuana on reservations may not have to pay local taxes or state taxes. This opportunity opens up a very lucrative business and the ability to provide jobs for tribal members.
The large tourism industry in Las Vegas might tempt the Paiute and other Nevada tribes into branching into the recreational business due to the huge revenue potential.
Some argue that the long history of substance abuse connected with many Native populations is grounds for avoiding the industry altogether.
The Yakima Nation of Washington banned marijuana on the reservation. It is also trying to block applications for marijuana businesses on 12 million acres the tribe is entitled to use for hunting and fishing.
Rodriguez feels that the demand for marijuana is going to far surpass the economic tribal benefits that now come with their involvement in the gambling industry.
"There's just no way to stop this," he said.
Stacey Montooth, a spokesperson and member of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony said, "As far as the Reno-Sparks Colony is concerned, we are always looking for economic development opportunities."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Will Tribes Profit From Legal Recreational Marijuana?
Author: Cynthia Delaney
Contact: 775-738-3118
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Elko Daily Free Press
