First National Conference Set to Discuss Legalization of Marijuana in Indian Country
Native Leaders Called to Consider Significant Social, Political, Economic and
Cultural Ramifications of Marijuana Legislation
February 27, 2015
Tulalip Resort Casino in Quil Ceda Village, WA
A ground-breaking national conference to examine the legal, political and social policy implications of marijuana legalization in Indian Country will take place in Washington state in February. Tribal leaders, executives, entrepreneurs and Native health and social work professionals, and law enforcement personnel are being called upon to attend the conference scheduled for February 27, 2015 at the Tulalip Resort Casino in Quil Ceda Village, WA.
This unprecedented conference is being co-sponsored and organized by Odawi Law PLLC and Harris Moure, PLLC to help leaders in Indian Country fully understand the wide-ranging issues associated with embarking on the development of tribal marijuana legislation and considerations of commercial marijuana cultivation, manufacture and distribution in tribal jurisdictions.
Conference co-sponsor and organizer Robert Odawi Porter, a leading attorney in tribal sovereignty and treaty rights issues and a former president of the Seneca Nation, noted that in recent years the national trend in social attitudes towards marijuana use have changed dramatically paving the way for new legislation in a significant number of states across the country.
"Given recent developments, we are excited to announce this historic opportunity for tribal leaders to gain a better understanding of the implications of marijuana legalization in their territories," said Porter. "We are bringing together some of the best, most experienced lawyers and commentators at the intersection of Indian law and marijuana law to share their experience in addressing the evolving issues surrounding recreational and medicinal marijuana usage in Indian Country. Our goal is to pursue a balanced discussion of the important legal, business, social, and cultural questions that would inevitably affect Native societies were legalization to occur."
Medical marijuana has been legalized in 33 states, has been made legal for persons over the age of 21 in four states, and has been legalized for recreational use in Washington and Colorado. In October 2014, the United States Department of Justice issued a “Policy Statement Regarding Marijuana Issues in Indian Country.” In this Statement, the DOJ stated that its enforcement priorities will apply “in the event that sovereign Indian Nations seek to legalize the cultivation or use of marijuana in Indian Country.”
Hilary Bricken, one of the foremost legal experts and premier cannabis business attorneys in the United States, is a co-sponsor and organizer of the Tribal Marijuana Conference. Bricken has extensive knowledge and experience with cannabis regulations and has testified before state and federal government panels. Bricken said, “There exists enormous new market potential for commercial marijuana initiatives on Native lands. This conference will extract the regulations and the legal and policy issues that are in place to assist Native leaders as they consider the myriad possibilities before they begin to embark on a path of commerce involving cannabis. This is an unparalleled opportunity for tribes to participate in a growing sector of commerce and diversify their economies, yet there is much to be considered to ensure successful implementation of tribal policy and law.”
National experts will discuss the federal and state laws and policies regulating marijuana possession and use; the history of medical marijuana legislation, proposed legislative fixes on the horizon, and business development considerations. For more details on the Tribal Marijuana Conference and registration information contact: Erica Curnutte at erica@harrismoure.com at (206) 224-5657 or rob@odawilaw.com or hilary@harrismoure.com.