By Rob Pero, Founder of Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association
The most exciting future for cannabis in the U.S. isn’t coming out of Congress or corporate boardrooms. It’s happening in Indigenous communities across North America. Tribal Nations are organizing and making moves to destigmatize plant medicine, build sustainable and generational wealth, and plan for a better future for cannabis, as the Ojibwe say, in a good way.
While lawmakers continue to debate hemp-derived cannabinoids and whether THC should stay legal at the state or federal level, Indigenous communities aren’t waiting around. Tribes are moving forward, asserting sovereignty and reconnecting with cannabis in ways that honor long-standing relationships with plant medicine.
Cannabis use is a form of plant medicine that’s been practiced by Indigenous people and passed down through generations as both a treatment and a spiritual practice. In addition to honoring that powerful history and the wisdom of our elders, Indigenous people are looking toward a long-term future in hemp that respects both the earth and future generations. The Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Indigenous people is a well-rooted foundation for ethically, intentionally, and sustainably participating in the cannabis industry.
Nearly 10 years ago, the first regulated Indigenous cannabis storefront opened in Washington state. Since then, dozens of Tribal Nations have built their own cannabis regulatory systems, governing cultivation, production, and sales on their own terms. Beyond cannabis, 52 tribes currently operate federally approved hemp programs. Out of 575 federally recognized tribes nationwide (358 in the U.S.), about 26% are now involved in cannabis or hemp in some form.
A Note About Sovereignty
Indigenous people were thriving in the Americas before 1492; then, as Europeans began to occupy their lands, they entered into treaties with what would eventually become the United States government. Treaties began to define who was Indigenous, and non-Indigenous …
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Author: High Times Contributors / High Times
