The Royal River Family Entertainment Center in Flandreau, South Dakota. Image from Google Maps
The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota is a little less than three months away from opening the first marijuana resort in the United States. The 10,000 square-foot facility is due to open December 31. A tribal attorney said interest has already been strong. “About 100 people have already called to say they’re coming,” attorney Seth Pearman told Al Jazeera. “We’re very excited about this process.” The facility is going into a building near the Royal River Casino that houses the Royal River Family Entertainment Center. It will offer a bowling alley, bar, lounge, arcade and live music. The casino itself includes a hotel.
Bowling lanes at the Royal River Family Entertainment Center in Flandreau, South Dakota. Photo by Flandreau Mixed League / Facebook
The tribal council voted 5 to 1 in 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 otherwise remains illegal under federal law. But the Department of Justice opened the door to legal marijuana in Indian Country with the 2014 Wilkinson memo. The state of South Dakota, however, claims that non-Indians who use marijuana on the reservation can still face prosecution under state law. The tribe is working with Monarch America on the project. An earlier story on Indianz.Com incorrectly named the wrong company as the tribe's partner. Get the Story:
Requests pour in for opening night of Native American marijuana resort (Al Jazeera 9/30) Also Today:
Robert W. Wood: Marijuana Goes Native American And Tax Free (Forbes.Com 10/1) Relevant Documents:
Department of Justice Policy Statement Regarding Marijuana Issues in Indian Country (October 2014)
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