Cannabis bust on Indigenous land highlights legal divide (NM Pueblo)

The Santa Fe New Mexican ^ | November 19, 2021 | Morgan Lee AP

[CedarDave]

A federal raid on a household marijuana garden on tribal land in Picuris Pueblo is sowing uncertainty and resentment about U.S. drug enforcement priorities on Native American reservations, as more states roll out legal marketplaces for recreational pot sales.

In late September, Bureau of Indian Affairs officers confiscated nine cannabis plants from a home garden that was tended by Charles Farden, a local resident since childhood who is not Native American. The 54-year-old is enrolled in the state’s Medical Cannabis Program to ease post-traumatic stress and anxiety.

New Mexico first approved the drug’s medical use in 2007, while Picuris Pueblo decriminalized medical pot for members in 2015. A new state law in June broadly legalized marijuana for adults and authorized up to a dozen homegrown plants per household for personal use — with no weight limit.

The raid has cast a shadow over cannabis as an economic development opportunity for Indigenous communities, as tribal governments at Picuris Pueblo and at least one other reservation pursue agreements with New Mexico that would allow them to open marijuana businesses. The state is home to 23 federally recognized Native American communities. It’s aiming to launch retail pot sales by April.

More than two-thirds of states have legalized marijuana in some form, including four that approved recreational pot in the 2020 election and four more by legislation this year. The U.S. government has avoided cracking down on them, even though the drug remains illegal under federal law to possess, use or sell.

[CedarDave]

Washington, we have a problem...

The Albuquerque Journal has the same story with a slightly different title:
"Cannabis bust at pueblo highlights legal divide"

The newspaper's clientele in Santa Fe expects the paper to use the new "woke" term for Native Americans.

[NWFree]

“ In late September, Bureau of Indian Affairs officers confiscated nine cannabis plants from a home garden that was tended by Charles Farden”

A whopping 9 whole planets when they raided the Farden garden 🤪

I feel so much safer 🙄

[CedarDave]

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[Lee Enfield]

The “Nations” are supposed to have autonomy in their internal policies. We should live up to the treaties and get the feds out of their affairs.

[Bonemaker]

Wonder how they are liking those democrat turds they voted for. Great White Father in Washington cornhole red man once again.

[Mastador1]

Here's a question, who turned him into the Feds? It had to be someone on the reservation. Sounds like maybe some Indian neighbor isn't happy with this non Indian no matter how long he lived there.

But I agree let the Indians police themselves, unless and until they ask the Feebs for assistance.

[aces]

Awww nawwww..lol

[The MAGA-Deplorian]

9 plants! Compeating with the Mexican cartels with that crop!