Eastern Shoshone advocate hopes medical marijuana will provide health, economic benefits for tribe | Regional News
4 min read
Last year, Eastern Shoshone tribesmen were preparing for a possible vote to legalize medical marijuana in the Wind River Reservation, but COVID-19 devastated the reservation and condemned all public gatherings.
Now the General Council will meet again on Saturday to vote on the matter. Eastern Shoshone and So-go-Beah Seam-Su – “Mother Earth and Medicine” in Shoshone – member Bobbi Shongutsie said she was “80%” optimistic that the resolution will be passed.
75 tribe members must be present for a quorum to exist.
Shongutsie’s agenda includes:
- Medical cannabis legalization under the Cole and Wilkinson Memorandum
- Decriminalize medical cannabis from the Law and Order Codes of the Shoshone & Arapaho tribes
- Creation of a regulatory commission for medical cannabis
So-go-Beah Seam-Su has been campaigning for the economic and medicinal benefits of hemp, CBD, and medical marijuana for the leaders and tribesmen of Eastern Shoshone for a number of years, but Shongutsie and the group will do one final lobbying Thursday if a The public forum at Rocky Mountain Hall will take place.
“It’s not just Shoshone tribe members who are interested, but the entire community,” Shongutsie said.
The Eastern Shoshone General Council will vote on medical marijuana this month
Some of the older generations, Shongutsie said, have researched the benefits of CBD and medical marijuana and want them for medicinal purposes.
“They’d rather take CBD than a pill,” she said. “They used this on their joints for rheumatoid arthritis or pain from diabetes” and other diseases.
And she hopes legalization will be an economic boon to the community where tribesmen and those who work at the reserve’s five casinos have experienced financial hardship and instability over the past year.
Hundreds march in Riverton to support the missing and murdered indigenous movement
“When I talk to the younger generation between 18 and 30, they want work because (as soon as they leave high school) they say, ‘There’s nothing for us, there’s nothing to do’ and they don’t want to work.” the casinos because that’s no longer a promised job, “Shongutsie said.
When she was a little girl, Shongutsie remembered taking summer trips to Colorado State University, where kids on the reservation had the potential to receive a full-time scholarship. Now this program has been defused. However, Shongutsie hopes that the sale of medical marijuana could revive educational programs on the reservation.
“We need a stronger foundation in education to help children succeed,” she said. “I feel like there is a gap between high school and college. There has to be a bridge to help Native American students.”
Tribal members continue to push for medical marijuana legalization with reservations
Jordan Dresser, chairman of the Northern Arapaho Business Council, added that both tribes must vote on it in order for the law and order of Shoshone and Arapaho to be changed.
“We’ll look closely,” he said.
The adult tribesmen of Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho have ultimate control over tribal affairs and moderate business councils. In the meantime, business councils are elected to take over day-to-day governance. Eastern Shoshone tribal government officials did not respond to requests for comment.
Michael Pearlman, communications director for Mark Gordon, Wyoming governor, said the governor had no opportunity to review the tribe’s agenda to legalize medical marijuana. support legislation has increased among the Wyomingites for marijuana. A University of Wyoming poll found that more than half of the state’s residents were in favor of legalizing marijuana for recreational use.
Wyoming is increasingly surrounded by states that have legalized marijuana to some extent. Last year, residents of Montana and South Dakota voted in favor of legalization, although the South Dakota decision remains court-shackled. Colorado is nearing a decade of legalization.
Photos: Missing and murdered tribal peoples march in Riverton
Riverton
Hundreds march in Riverton Wednesday for missing and murdering tribal peoples.
Riverton
From left, Martin Gonzalez, JJ Gonzalez and Anthony Enos Jr. await a march in honor of the missing and murdered Aborigines in Riverton on Wednesday. Hundreds marched in support of the issue, which has received more attention in recent years.
Riverton
Nicole Wagner is putting together a banner in honor of her two daughters Jade and Jocelyn on a march for missing and murdered indigenous peoples in Riverton on Wednesday, May 5, 2021.
Riverton
Shilo Twobulls of the tribes of Northern Arapaho and Oglala Sioux carry the flag of Arapaho during a march for missing and murdered tribal peoples in Riverton on Wednesday May 5, 2021.
Riverton
During a march in Riverton over missing and murdered indigenous peoples on Wednesday May 5, 2021, a man holds up his arm in solidarity.
Riverton
Solidarity marchers for missing and murdered indigenous people are reflected in a puddle in Riverton on Wednesday May 5, 2021.
Riverton
Hundreds march in Riverton over missing and murdered indigenous peoples on Wednesday May 5th, 2021.
Riverton
Fay Ann accompanies her family for a march in honor of missing and murdered indigenous peoples in Riverton on Wednesday, May 5th, 2021.
Riverton
Siblings Arianah Gould, Whitney Gould and Anthony Aurthur play on a mound of earth waiting for the march in honor of the missing and murdered indigenous people march in Riverton on Wednesday May 5, 2021.
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