Native Tribe to Rick Scott: Let Us Build a Casino on Our Land or We Start Growing Pot

by John Paul Brammer

The Poarch Creek tribe has given Florida Governor Rick Scott an ultimatum: either the Republican-controlled House and Senate will allow them to build a casino on land the tribe owns, or they will have no choice but to grow and distribute marijuana.

The U.S. Justice Department granted tribes the right to grow marijuana on their sovereign lands last December.

While some tribes have expressed concerns about weed’s potential influence on the youth in the reservation, where alcoholism rates are high, it appears that the right to grow marijuana has come in handy as a bargaining chip.

Stephanie Bryan, the Chairwoman of the Poarch Creek tribal council, told the Associated Press that the tribe is “entitled to negotiate a compact with the state.”

This is the kind of stuff Parks and Recreation episodes are made of, and I am totally, 10o percent for it.

It’s about time our government started listening to Natives. A big step forward in that regard was when President Obama established the first Tribal Nations Conference, a platform for Natives to voice their concerns and issues to the federal government.

Amplifying the voices of Natives is a priority for us here at BNR. From calling out anti-immigrant protestors to fighting against the Keystone XL Pipeline, the tribes are saying exactly what needs to be said in this country.

I’m interested to see what Rick Scott does in response. The stakes are high, and if he doesn’t act soon, many people in Florida will be too.