Federal and local authorities raided the marijuana farm on the XL Rancheria in California on July 8, 2015. Photo by Bruce Brown / Facebook
A leadership dispute within the Alturas Rancheria of California helped spur a federal raid of the tribe's marijuana operation. Depending on who you ask, the tribe has anywhere from three to seven members. Of those, only two can trace direct descent from the Pit River Indians whose rancheria was originally set aside by the federal government in 1927. Those two members are siblings Phillip Del Rosa and Wendy Del Rosa. According to an affidavit filed in federal court, Phillip started the marijuana farm over Wendy's objections. In a letter to federal authorities, "Wendy Del Rosa affirmed that the marijuana manufacturing operation on tribal lands was opposed by the tribe and illegal under state and federal law," special agent Charles Turner of the Bureau of Indian Affairs stated. Wendy further told U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner to "take all appropriate law enforcement action to close this illegal drug operation and bring those responsible to justice," the affidavit stated. Wagner followed up on part of that request by raiding the marijuana operation on the rancheria on Wednesday morning. But authorities didn't arrest anyone associated with the farm. And Wagner said no charges are pending against anyone involved so Wendy won't be seeing her brother going to jail any time soon. Federal agents also raided a marijuana facility on the XL Rancheria, a reservation that is home to the Pit River Tribe. That operation was described as much larger than the one on the Alturas Rancheria. Altogether, authorities seized more than 12,000 marijuana plants and more than 100 pounds of processed marijuana from the two reservations. Get the Story:
Sibling dispute sparks feds to raid marijuana grows on tribal land (KRCR 7/9)
Feds seize 12,000 marijuana plants from Indian land in Modoc County (The Sacramento Bee 7/9)
Federal agents raid marijuana farm on Pit River tribal land (The Redding Record-Searchlight 7/9)
Monster Pot Raid on Tribal Territory in Modoc County; Feds Allege Connection With Canadian Tobacco Giant (The Lost Coast Outpost 7/8)
Marijuana Grow Operation Seized In Modoc County, CA (KOLO 7/8)
Feds seize marijuana from Indian tribal lands in California (AP 7/8) Relevant Documents:
Department of Justice Policy Statement Regarding Marijuana Issues in Indian Country (October 2014)
Join the Conversation
Related Stories:Authorities seize marijuana from tribal operations in California (7/8)
Tribes urged to proceed with caution in new marijuana industry (7/8)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe shares details of marijuana grow (06/24)
South Dakota official claims non-Indians can't use marijuana (6/23)
Editorial: Marijuana won't help Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe (6/22)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe to sell marijuana by end of year (6/17)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe moves forward with legal marijuana (6/16)
Umatilla Tribes change marijuana use policy for casino employees (6/15)
Tribes take interest in growing marijuana for medical purposes (6/11)
Pinoleville Pomo Nation faces prosecution over marijuana plants (6/5)
Pinoleville Pomo Nation starts planting marijuana on reservation (6/4)
Tex Hall foresees marijuana as big business for Indian Country (6/3)
Tex Hall joins company to promote marijuana in Indian Country (6/1)
Voters of Red Cliff Band show support for some uses of marijuana (5/28)
Appropriations bill allows VA hospitals to recommend marijuana (5/26)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe issues statement on marijuana (05/13)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe to launch marijuana business (5/12)
Washington governor signs tribal marijuana agreement bill (5/11)
Rob Williams: Marijuana generates a buzz in Indian Country (5/8)
Red Cliff Band asks voters about legal marijuana and hemp (5/8)
Interview with attorney about marijuana for tribes in Oklahoma (04/30)
Hoopa Valley Tribe maintains law against marijuana cultivation (4/29)
Workshop on tribal marijuana to be held in Wisconsin on June 4 (4/28)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe maintains strong stance on marijuana (4/28)
Youth of Hoopa Valley Tribe speak out against marijuana grows (4/27)
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe might be interested in growing hemp (4/27)
Brandon Ecoffey: Oglala Sioux Tribe must act on legal marijuana (4/24)
Marijuana seen as new frontier in tribal economic development (04/23)
Kashia Band interested in timber not marijuana on new lands (4/22)
Colville Tribes schedule June 13 referendum on legal marijuana (4/21)
Santa Rosa Band enters deal to grow marijuana on reservation (4/21)
St. Croix Band debate over marijuana leads to restraining order (4/20)
Lakota Country Times: Oglala Sioux district endorses marijuana (4/15)
Warm Springs Tribes consider marijuana as economic opportunity (04/09)
Walt Lamar: Tribes weigh big issues with marijuana cultivation (04/06)
Bill against legal marijuana advances in Navajo Nation Council (04/03)
Alex White Plume aims to grow hemp on Pine Ridge Reservation (03/30)
Law firm hosts tribes for session on marijuana in Indian Country (03/26)
Bill for tribal marijuana compacts up for hearing in Washington (3/25)
Opinion: Huge tax advantages for marijuana in Indian Country (3/23)
Pinoleville Pomo Nation marijuana farm appears to be on hold (3/20)
Ute Mountain Ute Tribe cites interest from marijuana industry (3/19)
Three tribes in Maine are latest to express interest in marijuana (3/16)
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community weighs marijuana referendum (3/16)
State laws remain an issue as tribes consider growing marijuana (3/13)
Tribal Hemp and Cannabis Summit set for April 23 in New Mexico (3/12)
Former leader of Hoopa Valley Tribe pushes action on marijuana (3/12)
Torres Martinez Tribe won't sell marijuana directly to consumers (3/12)
Opinion: High stakes in debate for marijuana in Indian Country (3/11)
Jacqueline Keeler: Tribes showing interest in growing marijuana (3/10)
Interview: Allyson Doctor on National Indian Cannabis Coalition (3/10)
Workshop on tribal marijuana to be held in California next month (3/9)
Tribes in Wisconsin discuss marijuana with federal prosecutors (3/9)
Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Tribe launches marijuana project (3/5)
Measure reaffirms Navajo Nation policy against legal marijuana (3/5)
Lummi Nation leader moves ahead with tribal cannabis group (3/3)
Marijuana presented as another opportunity for Indian Country (3/2)
