Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe President Anthony Reider. Photo from Facebook
The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota destroyed all of its marijuana plants last year, President Tony Reider confirmed. Reider spoke to The Moody County Enterprise to refute allegations made by Attorney General Marty Jackley, who suggested that the tribe might not have burned all of its stash. "The cannabis was all destroyed," Reider told the paper. Jackley was threatening to arrest non-Indians for using marijuana on the reservation before the tribe scuttled plans to sell the drug. The tribe also said it feared the federal government might raid its operation. The tribal council voted 5 to 1 last June to legalize marijuana on the reservation. The council also adopted comprehensive set of laws and policies to address the sale and use of the drug. Marijuana, however, remains illegal under federal law even though a Department of Justice policy -- known as the 2014 Wilkinson memo -- seemingly opened the door to legal marijuana in Indian Country. Federal authorities raided two tribes in California for growing marijuana and a third in Wisconsin for growing hemp, the drug's harmless cousin. Get the Story:
State Questions Marijuana Burn Tribal officials maintain it all went up in flames (The Moody County Enterprise 4/20)
Up in smoke? State investigating tribal marijuana crop (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 4/12) Relevant Documents:
Department of Justice Policy Statement Regarding Marijuana Issues in Indian Country (October 2014)
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