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Yakama Nation won't recognize marijuana law in Washington

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

The Yakama Nation won't recognize the state of Washington's recreational marijuana law.

Washington Initiative 502 authorizes use and possession of marijuana in limited circumstances. But the drug remains illegal under federal law, the tribe noted.

“We do not want our people, or anyone else, to use, grow or sell marijuana on our lands,” Chairman Harry Smiskin wrote in a post on The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. “We have had a long and unpleasant history with marijuana — just as we have had with alcohol. We fight them both on our lands.”

The Washington State Liquor Control Board agreed to notify the tribe if anyone applies for a permit on land within the reservation. If the tribe objects, the permit will be denied.

Get the Story:
Yakama Nation says it won’t recognize state’s new pot law (The Yakima Herald-Republic 10/27)
Yakama Nation says it is not open to legalized marijuana (AP 10/28)
Yakama Nation Won't Recognize Wash. State's New Pot Law (KPLU 10/28)

An Opinion:
Harry Smiskin: Why the Yakama Nation opposes state’s ‘legal’ marijuana on its land (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 10/22)