A South Dakota Native American tribe that’s planning a recreational marijuana “resort” has formally begun cultivation for its planned New Year’s Eve opening.
The Flandreau Santee Sioux tribe, which already operates a successful casino in eastern South Dakota, is planning a big marijuana-centric tourist attraction for its reservation, which will reportedly include a consumption lounge, nightclub, arcade games, bar and food service.
The resort could prove to be a big hit, the paper reported. After the initial announcement was made about the planned New Year’s Eve opening, an online video of the operation got more than six million hits.
“The reaction has been insane to say the least,” one tribal spokesman told the paper.
There are still unanswered legal questions about tribal involvement in the marijuana industry, especially in states like South Dakota that haven’t legalized medical or recreational cannabis. But a police chief in the town nearest the reservation said his plan is to “wait and see what this brings,” so the resort may be successful if no state law enforcement officials decide to intervene.
