A building at 2150 North State Street in Ukiah, California, was one of two locations on the Pinoleville Pomo Nation that was raided by the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office. Image from Google Maps

The Pinoleville Pomo Nation is firing back after authorities in Mendocino County, California, raided the tribe's marijuana operation last week.

Vice Chair Angela James accused Sheriff Tom Allman of violating the tribe's sovereignty. She promised to pursue "legal remedies" against the county for seizing marijuana and other items from two locations on the reservation.

"We will not allow the Sheriff to subvert our sovereign rights," James said in a press release posted by The Lost Coast Outpost. "We have the right to produce and provide regulated, safe and standardized cannabis medicine to collective members."

According to the sheriff's press release, 382 marijuana plants were "eradicated" from an open field at 650 Pinoleville Road in Ukiah. A second raid at 2150 North State Street, also in Ukiah, uncovered over 100 pounds of processed marijuana and a "sophisticated honey oil chemical extraction laboratory," Allman's office said.

The county claims jurisdiction over the reservation through Public Law 280. But the tribe contends its marijuana operation is not criminal because the drug is regulated by the state for medicinal purposes.

The distinction is important. The U.S. Supreme Court decision in California v. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians could provide an opening for tribes because the state hasn't outright barred marijuana cultivation.

The issue, though, has never been tested because marijuana is a new industry. And while the Department of Justice issued a policy last year that opens the door to legal marijuana in Indian Country, far three tribal marijuana operations in California have been raided so far.

Get the Story:
Pinoleville issues response to marijuana raid (The Ukiah Daily Journal 9/27)
Raid on tribal marijuana farms underscores uncertainty over pot laws (The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat 9/25)

An Opinion:
Editorial: Sheriff did the right thing (The Ukiah Daily Journal 9/27)

Relevant Documents:
Department of Justice Policy Statement Regarding Marijuana Issues in Indian Country (October 2014)

Related Stories:
Pinoleville Pomo Nation sees big setback at marijuana operation (9/23)
Pinoleville Pomo Nation hires security team at marijuana farm (07/17)
Pinoleville Pomo Nation was initially resistant to marijuana farm (07/13)
Pinoleville Pomo Nation faces prosecution over marijuana plants (06/05)
Pinoleville Pomo Nation starts planting marijuana on reservation (06/04)
BIA seeks comments about organization of California tribe (05/11)
Pinoleville Pomo Nation marijuana farm appears to be on hold (03/20)
State laws remain an issue as tribes consider growing marijuana (03/13)
Evictions linked to Pinoleville Pomo Nation's marijuana project (02/13)
Pinoleville Pomo Nation puts marijuana farm on temporary hold (02/11)
Company claims major interest in marijuana in Indian Country (02/03)
Pinoleville Pomo Nation to use marijuana revenue for programs (01/15)
Pinoleville Pomo Nation confirms deal for legal marijuana farm (01/09)
Speculation grows about tribal marijuana operation in California (01/08)
Company set to announce tribal marijuana operation in California (01/07)