Following the U.S. Department of Justice’s memorandum allowing tribes to grow and sell marijuana, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota embarked on opening the nation’s first marijuana resort. Tribal President Anthony Reider said, “When completed, this economic development project will help to create many important additional new jobs and increase economic stability for the tribe and its many members. ” The resort could generate up to million in monthly profits which the tribe would direct toward youth, culture and language programs, plus mental health facilities.
One of the challenges of the undertaking, however, is that marijuana is illegal in South Dakota. Presently, recreational marijuana can be purchased in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and the District of Columbia. USA Today in August noted 11 more states will soon legalize recreational marijuana. Medical marijuana is legal in 24 states.
A survey indicated some tribal members do not agree with the tribe’s marijuana endeavors, however, the majority support it. Kenny Weston, Flandreau Santee Sioux tribal council member, said, “Alcohol and gambling are already here. When casinos were a new option for tribes, many feared that they would bring organized crime and prostitution. This never happened. Aside from making money, this is about sovereignty. We have sovereignty and we have to assert it. The goal for many tribes is to become self-sustaining. Revenue from the marijuana venture will help us to get closer to this.”
The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe has contracted with the Denver-based marijuana company, Monarch America Inc. to help guide its efforts. The tribe has invited state officials to tour the grow facility and the adjacent dispensary and marijuana lounge, which is under construction. The state-of-the-art facility tracks every plant with a barcode, from seed, to germination, to consumption. Full audits can be conducted at any time. Monarch America Vice President Jonathon Hunt said, “This is as clean and professional as it can get.” Only patrons age 21 or older may purchase marijuana which will be dispensed and smoked, one gram at a time, only in the marijuana lounge. Security and other issues also have been thoroughly addressed. “If you disagree with marijuana, just don’t come, just as others choose not to frequent bars or casinos,” said Weston.
Opening night is projected to be New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2015, when 31 of the facility’s 60 different strains of marijuana will be available. The festivities will be limited to the first 1,000 paying guests. The tribe’s Royal River Casino will provide rooms for overnight guests.
Regarding concerns about the tribe’s venture, Hunt said, “The fears are government scare tactics. We welcome anybody to do their own research. There has already been a 5-million person experiment in Colorado. Fears of crime and teen use of marijuana in Colorado, none of them came true. Nobody has died as a result of marijuana consumption. It is impossible to overdose, and crime actually declined in Colorado.”
Weston said, “We encourage other tribes to jump on board, band together and back each other up on this. We need to look ahead, and be prepared to help our people.”
