A recent ruling by a Minnesota judge affirming the state's right to prosecute cannabis-related offenses on tribal lands has sparked debate over Indigenous sovereignty and the fairness of state cannabis laws. Todd Thompson of the White Earth Band began selling cannabis at his tobacco shop just after Minnesota legalized recreational cannabis but faced immediate raids by law enforcement. Thompson argues his constitutional rights were violated, expressing frustration over being portrayed negatively in the media and highlighting the challenges of entering the cannabis market due to stringent regulations and federal illegality.
"When they raided my home, they took my sacred items, my sage bowl, tipped it upside down on my bed, white bed sheets. And they took my feather and put it on the floor," said Thompson.
"Under our constitution, I should have the same rights as [the dispensary owners]," he said, emphasizing the issue of equal rights among members of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.
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