Sen. James Lankford (R-Oklahoma) is a new member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. Photo from Facebook
Sen. James Lankford (R-Oklahoma) introduced a bill on Wednesday that punishes tribes for growing marijuana. S.1984, the Keeping out Illegal Drugs Act of 2015, bars tribes that cultivate, manufacture or distribute marijuana from receiving federal funds. He said he was taking action to protect young Native Americans from the influence of drugs. "The Native American community experiences the highest drug induced death rate in the country," Lankford said in a press release. "It is important for our nation to help address this issue for the sake of the next generation of Native Americans." Marijuana is illegal under federal law. But the Department of Justice opened the door to legal forms of the drug in Indian Country with the 2014 Wilkinson memo.
Indianz.Com SoundCloud: Oversight Hearing on "Examining the True Costs of Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Native Communities"
Tribes across the nation have expressed interest in developing marijuana. Except for a couple in California and one in South Dakota, most are moving very cautiously by examining the economic, social and other impacts of a drug that is legal in some form in nearly two dozen states. The issue came up during a Senate Indian Affairs Committee last month when a non-Indian witness urged Congress to prevent tribes from exercising their own judgment on the matter. Lankford prodded the tribal representatives to respond but only one discussed how legal marijuana from Colorado is being seen in Wyoming. Get the Story:
Lankford aims to link pot, tribes’ funds (The Oklahoman 8/7) Committee Notice:
Oversight Hearing on "Examining the True Costs of Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Native Communities." (July 29, 2015)
Join the Conversation
Related Stories:Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe getting ready to sell marijuana (8/5)
Senate committee examines costs of substance abuse on tribes (07/30)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe claims DOJ support for marijuana (07/29)
Vince Two Eagles: Questions about 'Pezhi' in Indian Country (07/23)
Pinoleville Pomo Nation hires security team at marijuana farm (07/17)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe expects big profits on marijuana (7/16)
Disputed leader of Alturas Rancheria blasts sister on marijuana (7/16)
Yurok Tribe welcomes raid of marijuana farms on reservation (7/15)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe in talks with state on marijuana (7/15)
Menominee Nation schedules referendum on legal marijuana (7/14)
Seneca Nation expresses interest in joining marijuana industry (7/14)
Chair of Pit River Tribe slams federal raid of marijuana operation (7/13)
Pinoleville Pomo Nation was initially resistant to marijuana farm (7/13)
Native entrepreneur from Canada funded tribal marijuana grows (7/10)
Alturas Rancheria leadership dispute helped spur marijuana bust (7/9)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe will keep close watch on marijuana (7/9)
Authorities seize marijuana from tribal operations in California (7/8)
Tribes urged to proceed with caution in new marijuana industry (7/8)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe shares details of marijuana grow (06/24)
South Dakota official claims non-Indians can't use marijuana (6/23)
Editorial: Marijuana won't help Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe (6/22)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe to sell marijuana by end of year (6/17)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe moves forward with legal marijuana (6/16)
Umatilla Tribes change marijuana use policy for casino employees (6/15)
Tribes take interest in growing marijuana for medical purposes (6/11)
Pinoleville Pomo Nation faces prosecution over marijuana plants (6/5)
Pinoleville Pomo Nation starts planting marijuana on reservation (6/4)
Tex Hall foresees marijuana as big business for Indian Country (6/3)
Tex Hall joins company to promote marijuana in Indian Country (6/1)
Voters of Red Cliff Band show support for some uses of marijuana (5/28)
Appropriations bill allows VA hospitals to recommend marijuana (5/26)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe issues statement on marijuana (05/13)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe to launch marijuana business (5/12)
Washington governor signs tribal marijuana agreement bill (5/11)
Rob Williams: Marijuana generates a buzz in Indian Country (5/8)
Red Cliff Band asks voters about legal marijuana and hemp (5/8)