State-of-the-art marijuana growing operation to open in South Dakota by year's end

LANDREAU, South Dakota – The marijuana plants are already growing in a remodeled building on the Flandreau Santee Sioux reservation as the southeast South Dakota tribe shoots for a New Year’s Eve opening for its first-of-its-kind resort. The state-of-the-art marijuana growing operation with its 65 strains of plants is in its infancy as finishing touches are being put on the building where it will take about 14 weeks to grow about 80 pounds of pot. That’s how much the tribe hopes to sell weekly at its smoking lounge and entertainment resort just south of their casino that is noting its 25th year of operation this month. The resort has been about a year in the making, as the tribal council which leads the tribe of 280 adults and 110 children on the reservation voted 5-1 late last year to pursue the resort idea. Interest in the operation has certainly been high, and president Tony Reider said other tribes across the nation are closely watching, as it will be the first-ever marijuana resort on a reservation.
Plans are for a club atmosphere at the resort that will be in a former bowling alley on the Flandreau Sioux Reservation about 35 miles north of Sioux Falls, S.D., and 10 miles from the Minnesota border. “We want to have food, drinks, live music and maybe some slot machines in the lounge,” said the tribe’s lawyer, Seth Pearman. It will be within about a block of the tribe’s casino, restaurants and hotel, although tribal officials are careful to note that the lounge building will be the only place in the complex or on the reservation where people will be allowed to buy and consume pot in small amounts. About 65 strains - some already growing with the names of “cheesecake” and “trainwreck” - will be offered to guests. “You can compare the different strains to types of wine,” Reider said. “They can have a different taste and different feeling when consuming.” Offering the different types of marijuana is similar to how Colorado offers its legalized, recreational marijuana in its stores. ‘Insane’ reaction The resort will be open to all adults 21 and older, Pearman said. And the tribe is expecting large crowds, as the facility will hold about 1,000 people. Based on the reaction from social media and with people who have talked with the tribe, it could be a major attraction. After the tribe made another announcement late last month about the planned operation, one online video of the resort had more than 6 million views, said Reider. The tribe’s Facebook page and other stories about the resort have also reported large numbers of viewers. A Seattle television station even had a report on its evening news. “The reaction has been insane to say the least,” said tribal council treasurer Ryan Kills A Hundred. “We’ll take the free publicity.” Obstacles Despite all of the interest, the obstacles have been many, Reider and Kills A Hundred said about getting the operation up and running. The public reaction - and even among tribal members - has not been all positive, with some of the strongest opinions coming from the city of Flandreau leaders. Part of the tribe’s reservation that is scattered across Moody County lies within the southwest corner of the city. Flandreau’s police chief Anthony Schrad said city officials are currently “giving it a rest” on making any comments about the operation - that’s after they made it clear in past statements that they vehemently oppose the operation. Flandreau Mayor Mark Bonrud didn’t return a phone call for comment. “I think it’s best if we stay silent and ride this out as a passenger,” said Schrad. “We’ll just wait and see what this brings.” One immediate impact has been that the tribe has severed its longstanding joint police force with the city, which has resulted in the city having to cut its officers back from eight to six. The tribe, meanwhile, has five officers on its newly formed force and patrols the reservation land. When asked about any jurisdiction on the reservation, Schrad said they don’t have any, although they have signed a mutual aid agreement with the tribe to provide “backup” as needed for both departments. The U.S. attorney for the district of South Dakota Randy Seiler’s office, which has jurisdiction over criminal cases on tribal lands, has repeatedly had “no comment” on the issue since the tribe first started plans late last year. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has voiced opposition to some portions of the planned operation. He put out a statement and reiterated it in an interview this week that South Dakota law prohibits the smoking and possession of marijuana by “all non-Indian persons anywhere in South Dakota including with Indian country.” “Non-Indians are subject to state laws, and I think the U.S. Supreme Court has made that clear,” he said. “I don’t make the laws, I just enforce them.” Despite the apparent disagreement over some of the plans for the marijuana resort, Jackley said he has had several discussions with the tribal members and leaders. “We’ve had some good discussions about the need for respect for state laws by the tribe, but also respect for federal and tribal law.” Challenges Nonetheless the tribal leaders are forging ahead and learning as they go. For example, they were told there is probably about 50 pounds of marijuana moving illegally through Flandreau and Moody County area each week anyway. “And our product will be much safer,” Reider said. The tribe is also emphasizing that the marijuana will be available for people who need it for medicinal purposes at the building in a separated area from the lounge. However, Pearman said children of all ages in need of treatments for ailments that marijuana can benefit will be able to get treated with a doctor’s order and parental consent at the resort. That form of treatment will likely be in an oil strain - similar to what’s offered under Minnesota’s medical marijuana law. Parental consent, said Pearman, isn’t required if the person is between ages 18 and 21. Tribal council trustee Kenny Weston said he has heard hundreds of stories of miracles in children and people who use marijuana for medicinal purposes. “For some of the sickest children, it’s a matter of being able to eat again and enjoying a somewhat normal life again,” Weston said. As for other children obtaining the marijuana, the tribal leaders said they have many safeguards in place - including heavy security at the growing facility and that newly established tribal police force that will be on duty 24 hours a day. “I think we’ll have far better protection on the reservation land with our own department,” Pearman said. The tribal leaders also said they hope to relieve the worries of many about resort visitors leaving the resort and driving under the influence. Not only is the hotel nearby, but Pearman said they hope to offer shuttle buses similar to those offered for gambling trips from the nearby larger towns of Sioux Falls, Madison and Brookings. “There’s a vast difference between drugged driving and drunk driving, too,” Pearman said, referring to reaction time and what he said are rare instances of marijuana-involved accidents. The tribe also is pledging to try to control the situation if someone is over-consuming - similar to someone drinking alcohol at the casino. Driving will be carefully watched, too, when people leave the resort, they said. With the opening only a few months away, the tribe is hoping for an economic benefit to not only the tribe, which will own the operation and be the recipient of all profits, but also to the town. “Although some of the business owners in town won’t say it publicly, they are excited about the possibilities,” Reider said referencing some of the vacant buildings around town.LANDREAU, South Dakota – The marijuana plants are already growing in a remodeled building on the Flandreau Santee Sioux reservation as the southeast South Dakota tribe shoots for a New Year’s Eve opening for its first-of-its-kind resort.The state-of-the-art marijuana growing operation with its 65 strains of plants is in its infancy as finishing touches are being put on the building where it will take about 14 weeks to grow about 80 pounds of pot. That’s how much the tribe hopes to sell weekly at its smoking lounge and entertainment resort just south of their casino that is noting its 25th year of operation this month.The resort has been about a year in the making, as the tribal council which leads the tribe of 280 adults and 110 children on the reservation voted 5-1 late last year to pursue the resort idea.Interest in the operation has certainly been high, and president Tony Reider said other tribes across the nation are closely watching, as it will be the first-ever marijuana resort on a reservation.
Plans are for a club atmosphere at the resort that will be in a former bowling alley on the Flandreau Sioux Reservation about 35 miles north of Sioux Falls, S.D., and 10 miles from the Minnesota border.“We want to have food, drinks, live music and maybe some slot machines in the lounge,” said the tribe’s lawyer, Seth Pearman.It will be within about a block of the tribe’s casino, restaurants and hotel, although tribal officials are careful to note that the lounge building will be the only place in the complex or on the reservation where people will be allowed to buy and consume pot in small amounts.About 65 strains - some already growing with the names of “cheesecake” and “trainwreck” - will be offered to guests.“You can compare the different strains to types of wine,” Reider said. “They can have a different taste and different feeling when consuming.”Offering the different types of marijuana is similar to how Colorado offers its legalized, recreational marijuana in its stores.‘Insane’ reactionThe resort will be open to all adults 21 and older, Pearman said. And the tribe is expecting large crowds, as the facility will hold about 1,000 people.Based on the reaction from social media and with people who have talked with the tribe, it could be a major attraction.After the tribe made another announcement late last month about the planned operation, one online video of the resort had more than 6 million views, said Reider. The tribe’s Facebook page and other stories about the resort have also reported large numbers of viewers. A Seattle television station even had a report on its evening news.“The reaction has been insane to say the least,” said tribal council treasurer Ryan Kills A Hundred. “We’ll take the free publicity.”ObstaclesDespite all of the interest, the obstacles have been many, Reider and Kills A Hundred said about getting the operation up and running.The public reaction - and even among tribal members - has not been all positive, with some of the strongest opinions coming from the city of Flandreau leaders. Part of the tribe’s reservation that is scattered across Moody County lies within the southwest corner of the city.Flandreau’s police chief Anthony Schrad said city officials are currently “giving it a rest” on making any comments about the operation - that’s after they made it clear in past statements that they vehemently oppose the operation.Flandreau Mayor Mark Bonrud didn’t return a phone call for comment.“I think it’s best if we stay silent and ride this out as a passenger,” said Schrad. “We’ll just wait and see what this brings.”One immediate impact has been that the tribe has severed its longstanding joint police force with the city, which has resulted in the city having to cut its officers back from eight to six. The tribe, meanwhile, has five officers on its newly formed force and patrols the reservation land.When asked about any jurisdiction on the reservation, Schrad said they don’t have any, although they have signed a mutual aid agreement with the tribe to provide “backup” as needed for both departments.The U.S. attorney for the district of South Dakota Randy Seiler’s office, which has jurisdiction over criminal cases on tribal lands, has repeatedly had “no comment” on the issue since the tribe first started plans late last year.South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has voiced opposition to some portions of the planned operation.He put out a statement and reiterated it in an interview this week that South Dakota law prohibits the smoking and possession of marijuana by “all non-Indian persons anywhere in South Dakota including with Indian country.”“Non-Indians are subject to state laws, and I think the U.S. Supreme Court has made that clear,” he said. “I don’t make the laws, I just enforce them.”Despite the apparent disagreement over some of the plans for the marijuana resort, Jackley said he has had several discussions with the tribal members and leaders.“We’ve had some good discussions about the need for respect for state laws by the tribe, but also respect for federal and tribal law.”ChallengesNonetheless the tribal leaders are forging ahead and learning as they go.For example, they were told there is probably about 50 pounds of marijuana moving illegally through Flandreau and Moody County area each week anyway.“And our product will be much safer,” Reider said.The tribe is also emphasizing that the marijuana will be available for people who need it for medicinal purposes at the building in a separated area from the lounge.However, Pearman said children of all ages in need of treatments for ailments that marijuana can benefit will be able to get treated with a doctor’s order and parental consent at the resort. That form of treatment will likely be in an oil strain - similar to what’s offered under Minnesota’s medical marijuana law. Parental consent, said Pearman, isn’t required if the person is between ages 18 and 21.Tribal council trustee Kenny Weston said he has heard hundreds of stories of miracles in children and people who use marijuana for medicinal purposes.“For some of the sickest children, it’s a matter of being able to eat again and enjoying a somewhat normal life again,” Weston said.As for other children obtaining the marijuana, the tribal leaders said they have many safeguards in place - including heavy security at the growing facility and that newly established tribal police force that will be on duty 24 hours a day.“I think we’ll have far better protection on the reservation land with our own department,” Pearman said.The tribal leaders also said they hope to relieve the worries of many about resort visitors leaving the resort and driving under the influence.Not only is the hotel nearby, but Pearman said they hope to offer shuttle buses similar to those offered for gambling trips from the nearby larger towns of Sioux Falls, Madison and Brookings.“There’s a vast difference between drugged driving and drunk driving, too,” Pearman said, referring to reaction time and what he said are rare instances of marijuana-involved accidents.The tribe also is pledging to try to control the situation if someone is over-consuming - similar to someone drinking alcohol at the casino. Driving will be carefully watched, too, when people leave the resort, they said.With the opening only a few months away, the tribe is hoping for an economic benefit to not only the tribe, which will own the operation and be the recipient of all profits, but also to the town.“Although some of the business owners in town won’t say it publicly, they are excited about the possibilities,” Reider said referencing some of the vacant buildings around town.