Federal officials will not recognize legislation passed recently by Council members of the Oglala Sioux Indian Tribe legally distinguishing between marijuana and hemp, a DEA spokesman announced recently. The conflict appears to set the stage for a federal lawsuit if tribal members go through with plans to cultivate the non-psychoactive strain of the plant.
Tom Cook, who is overseeing the Sioux hemp project, said that the tribe anticipates filing an injunction against the DEA. “[This is] a question [of] whether the tribe has sovereignty over its own land.”
Earlier this month, council members approved an ordinance recognizing hemp as a “safe and profitable” crop that is legally distinct from marijuana. Responding to the measure, DEA Acting Associate Chief Counsel May Kate Whaelen said that the agency would still move to prosecute anyone cultivating hemp on the reservation.
For more information, please contact either Paul Armentano or attorney Tanya Kangas of The NORML Foundation @ (202) 483-8751. Tom Cook may be contacted @ (308) 432-2290.
