Official results from the Omaha Tribe's general election on November 3, 2015. Questions 1, 2 and 3 pertained to marijuana for recreational use, marijuana for medicinal use and industrial hemp, respectively. Photo from Facebook
The Omaha Tribe of Nebraska will consider legalizing marijuana and hemp after voters approved three non-binding questions on Tuesday. Some 59 percent of voters supported marijuana for recreational use and nearly 67 percent supported industrial hemp, according to official results posted on Facebook. The medicinal use question drew the strongest support -- 77 percent of voters. "We know what's best for our community," Chairman Vernon Miller told The Sioux City Journal. "This is another step in protecting and ensuring sovereign actions for our people as a sovereign nation." Marijuana otherwise remains illegal under federal law although the Department of Justice seemingly opened the door to the drug in Indian Country with the 2014 Wilkinson memo. So far, however, no tribe has successfully grown the drug -- or even hemp, marijuana's harmless cousin -- without being raided by state or federal authorities. Get the Story:
Omaha Tribe of Nebraska OKs marijuana referendums (The Sioux City Journal 11/4)
Omaha Tribe of Nebraska elects 2 to Tribal Council (The Sioux City Journal 11/4)
Omaha Tribe members give approval of possible marijuana legalization (Siouxland Matters 11/3)
Legalization of marijuana within the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska lies within the hands of its people (Siouxland Matters 11/2) Relevant Documents:
Department of Justice Policy Statement Regarding Marijuana Issues in Indian Country (October 2014)
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