Marijuana, hemp legalized on Reservation

BOT amends criminal code, eyeing economic diversity

By the CUJ

MISSION – Marijuana possession and purchase, by adults 21 and older, is now legal on the Umatilla Indian Reservation following a majority vote by the Board of Trustees on Jan. 30.

Up to this point, simple possession of marijuana, even for medicinal uses, was subject to a citation from Tribal Police and subsequent fine from Tribal Court.

Under the amended criminal code, an adult can possess up to 8 ounces of marijuana if on private property or in a private vehicle, or 1 ounce of useable marijuana in public. (The code changes, which spell out possession and purchasing rules, are listed on Page 3.)

The code changes, however, would not prohibit a landlord, including the CTUIR Housing Department, from restricting the use and growth of marijuana- and marijuana-derived products on the landlord’s property, according to an e-mail explanation issued from the CTUIR Office of Legal Counsel.

Changes to the CTUIR criminal code related to possession, purchase and sales of marijuana are now basically the same as the state of Oregon, which

See MARIJUANA, Page 3