An aerial view of Sky City, a village at Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico. Photo: Marshall Henrie
Acoma Pueblo plans to host a $160 million medical greenhouse on its reservation in New Mexico. An agreement was reached in December and announced last month. It calls for Bright Green Group of Companies to build and operate a "state-of-the-art greenhouse facility and research center" for medicinal plants, including marijuana. “This is a great opportunity for the Acoma Pueblo, which will bring job opportunities and resources to the Pueblo,” Shaun Cunningham, the Chief Executive Officer of Acoma Business Enterprises, said in a press release. Marijuana remains illegal under federal law and, by extension, in Indian Country. An Obama administration policy appeared to open the door to cultivating the plant on reservations but so far only tribes in Washington have been successful due in part to permissive state laws. Tribes in California and Wisconsin, on the other hand, have seen raids on their marijuana and even hemp crops. No tribe in New Mexico has yet to enter the industry although Acoma's deal could see marijuana growing there as soon as September. Read More on the Story:
New Mexico tribe puts up land for $160M medicinal greenhouse (AP 2/27) Relevant Documents:
Department of Justice Policy Statement Regarding Marijuana Issues in Indian Country (October 2014)
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