Now that things are legal in the state of New York, two Indigenous tribes are beginning to plant the seeds of a new business plan.
Syracuse.com broke the story, that starts with the Shinnecock Indian Nation breaking ground on an eventual marijuana facility on Long Island, and ends with the Saint Regis Mohawks discussing a tribal ordinance to regulate marijuana on their territory in Northern New York.
The state of New York is still a ways from allowing legal potshops to open up, with estimates that it will take 18 to 24 months for sales to begin.
These two tribes are getting way ahead of the curve, so it seems this could be a money-maker for more tribes in the state as well, with the Seneca Nation showing interest in the past and a few tribes already being in the Hemp industry.
There’s some murkiness as to how the law would work. It seems that the tribes can set their own regulations, but as soon as the marijuana leaves tribal land, it is subjected to New York’s cannabis laws. For instance, you could possess more than the 3 ounce limit on tribal land but are unable to leave with that amount.