America’s First Marijuana Resort Set To Open In South Dakota

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Thanks to South Dakota’s Santee Sioux tribe, America is about to open its first marijuana resort.

The resort will be at their reservation at Flandreau

Santee Sioux leaders plan to grow their own marijuana and will sell it in a smoking lounge that will include a nightclub, arcade games, bar and food service and, eventually, slot machines and an outdoor music venue.

The first joints are set to go on sale on New Year’s Eve.

It is expected that the project could make the Santee Sioux tribe up to $2 million in profits a month

Alternet reports: A handful of other tribes around the country have moved to produce marijuana or at least taken initial steps in that direction since the Justice Department signalled last December that it would not enforce federal marijuana laws on Indian reservations, provided marijuana activities did not lead to organized crime, violence, trafficking to other jurisdiction, or increased youth access. Those are the same principles governing the Obama administration approach to marijuana and medical marijuana in states where it is legal.

But no tribe has gone so far, so fast. Work is already underway on a grow operation, and the Santee Sioux expect to sell their first joints at a December 31 New Year’s Eve party.

“We want it to be an adult playground,” said tribal president Anthony Reider. “There’s nowhere else in America that has something like this.”

The tribe estimates it could take in $2 million a month in profits, and that has other tribes taking a keen interest. While there are concerns about getting into the pot business, the potential to increase tribal revenues in the same way gambling casinos did beginning three decades ago makes marijuana a tempting option.

The tribe says it hopes to make money to pay for community services and provide a monthly income for members. Reider added that he hope revenues could fund an addiction treatment center, more housing, and an overhaul for the reservation medical clinic.

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