Cash Crop Why Tribal Communities Are Embracing the Cannabis Market

Tribal populations are in dire need of a cash infusion. Most are too isolated to bring in tourists, others lack the infrastructure to bring in new business. Some forward-thinking tribes are capitalizing on the cash crop of the future and investing in cannabis companies that could revitalize their lagging economies. However, tribal lands are designated federal property, which means tribes must obey federal laws despite their distinction as sovereign entities. The contradiction is forcing some tribes out of the cannabis conversation and leaving billions of would-be dollars on the table.

Barriers to Entry

The Cole and Wilkinson memos issued by the Obama administration were