During the fall, the U.S. Department of Justice informed federal attorneys not to stop the growing or selling of marijuana on Native American sovereign lands if the tribes choose to do so. This follows the legalization of medical marijuana or other forms of relaxed marijuana laws in some states. In those states with legalization, growing marijuana on tribal lands has been called in to question.
Wisconsin continues to enforce marijuana laws, but some have raised the question, what if the laws changed here?
A spokesperson for the Lac du Flambeau band of Lake Superior Chippewa says the tribe will take no such action, continuing an effort to stop drug abuse on their reservation.
Spokesperson Brandon Thoms says marijuana grows will not be part of tribal policy..
".....it really doesn't change the tribe's position on illegal drugs or illegal substances. it's really something the tribe feels very strongly about. They're going to continue to combat any form of illegal drugs or substances here on the reservation...."
It is unknown if other tribes were interested in the change in federal policy. The Lac du Flambeau tribal council declared a State of Emergency in April, 2013 to stem a growing use of various types of drugs on the reservation.
