Selling and using marijuana recently became legal on the Flandreau Santee Sioux Indian Reservation in Flandreau, South Dakota. The tribe operates the Royal River Casino and Hotel. Tribal President Anthony Reider said, “Throughout Indian country, Flandreau’s been trail-blazers. We were with the casino, we were the second compacted tribe in the United States, the first and largest casino in between Atlantic City and Las Vegas, so it’s something that’s not new to us. We kind of like taking the forefront on issues.” Reider said the operation could be open by this fall. He added a three-member marijuana control commission will be established.
The tribe will open one facility where marijuana will be grown and another where people age 21 and older can purchase it for medicinal and recreational use. Individuals under age 21 will need a doctor’s recommendation.
Flandreau Mayor Mark Bonrud said he does not approve of the executive committee’s actions, making the Flandreau Santee Sioux Reservation the first in the state to legalize marijuana. “We don’t see any benefits in having marijuana in one certain entity without any tax structure or anything that’s going to benefit the city, or the state of South Dakota,” Bonrud said.
Tribal Attorney Seth Pearman said the facilities growing and selling marijuana will contain security personnel and surveillance cameras. The product will sold in quantities of one gram at a time. “We’re really kind of hoping that people treat it much like alcohol. We still would allow people to stay at our hotel, which would be the most ideal situation for us, but drugged driving is a major concern that we hope to curb, and by having such a small quantity, we hope that people don’t over consume,” Pearman said. He noted potential customers will need a valid registration card to purchase and use marijuana.
Each of the more than 300 federally recognized Indian reservations in the U.S. has the right to choose if it will legalize marijuana.
