About 13 per cent of the eligible voters of the Menominee Tribe cast ballots

About 13 per cent of the eligible voters of the Menominee Tribe cast ballots to approve both the recreational and medicinal use of marijuana on tribal grounds in a referendum described as “advisory”, meaning leadership is not bound by results. There are about 9,000 members of the tribe, and Menominee is the only Wisconsin tribe solely responsible for enforcing its own laws. “The state has no criminal jurisdiction over the Menominee Reservation, and we will continue to monitor this issue going forward,” said Attorney General Brad Schimel in a written statement.

The tribe now can decide to legalize recreational and medical marijuana, making anyone over 21 able to get a permit to purchase marijuana from the tribe and possess it. Anyone who has received a written recommendation or prescription from a medical provider would also be able to purchase it from the tribe.

Almost 60 per cent of those voting said yes to recreational use being approved, and 77 per cent approved of medicinal use. The tribe now wants to take a close look at the potential of selling marijuana, and will also look at the drawbacks. Gary Besaw, Menominee chairman, said they want to make sure minors do not have access to it, gangs do not become involved, and that it does not go outside the reservation to places where it is illegal.