Headquarters of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe in Flandreau, South Dakota. Image from Google Maps

The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota will be working with Monarch America, a cannabis development firm, to produce and sell marijuana for commercial, recreational and medicinal use.

The tribe will maintain complete ownership and operation of a 10,000 square-foot grow facility on the reservation. It will be accompanied by a 15,000 square-foot retail recreational marijuana consumption lounge that's going into an existing building adjacent to the Royal River Casino and Hotel.

Monarch America will advise the tribe on the construction and operation of the grow facility. The firm will also supply the tribe with the nutrients, lighting equipment and other supplies needed to cultivate marijuana.

"After careful consideration and meeting with several of the top marijuana consulting companies in the country, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe executive committee is very pleased to have selected Monarch America to assist the tribe in developing a sustainable recreational marijuana business on our tribal land," President Anthony Reider said in a press release. "When completed, this economic development project will help to create many important additional new jobs and increase economic stability for the tribe and its many members."

The tribal council voted 5-1 earlier this month to legalize marijuana, the first in South Dakota to do so. The resolution was accompanied by a comprehensive set of laws and policies to address the sale and use of the drug.

"I am happy to assist President Reider and the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe Executive Committee to create a thriving recreational marijuana business on tribal lands in my home state of South Dakota," Robert Shepherd, the former chairman of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate who serves the tribal relations officer for Monarch America, said in the press release.

The tribe intends to grow and sell marijuana by the end of the year. But South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has warned non-Indians that they will be breaking federal and state law if they use the drug on the reservation.

The tribe, however, said marijuana use will be legal in the consumption lounge as well as an additional 300 acres adjacent to the casino.

The Department of Justice opened the door to legal marijuana in Indian Country with the 2014 Wilkinson memo.

Get the Story:
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe announces partnership with Colorado marijuana grower (KSFY 6/24)
Tribe to grow, sell marijuana (The Moody County Enterprise 6/23)

Relevant Documents:
Department of Justice Policy Statement Regarding Marijuana Issues in Indian Country (October 2014)

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