Native American tribes across New York State are opening Cannabis Stores on their land as part of vertically integrated business operations that sell marijuana cultivation, processing, and retail products.
Mohawk Nation is now operating several dispensaries in the North Country region of New York State, while others can be found on Seneca territory in western New York.
Product Selection
At Native Nations, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe’s dispensary on reservation land in northern Moody County, customers can choose from an extensive selection of cannabis products. Along with joints and bags of buds, customers also have access to less commonly known items like waxes, edibles, tinctures, and oils.
The dispensary also offers a selection of vapes for consumers to try. These vapes contain cannabis oil extracted from a Marijuana Flower and then vaporized inside a device with a cartridge attached. Available in various strengths, these vapes come with an affordable price tag of $35 per single gram.
Another alternative is Cannabis Tinctures, which are liquid extracts of cannabis taken as droplets and sold in 300 milligram bottles for $30. They come in various strengths ranging from 5% to 40% THC and can be smoked or vaped. Cannabis tinctures offer an alternative for people who don’t want or can’t smoke their own marijuana and have difficulty getting high. They make a great option for those who prefer not to handle their own plants or need help getting high quickly.
Customer Service
Native Nations Dispensary in Flandreau, South Dakota is open to provide patients with legal access and shopping for regulated Cannabis THC and CBD Products. Located at 1301 S Veterans St, Flandreau, SD, this dispensary provides a wide selection of items tailored specifically for those diagnosed with medical marijuana needs.
Small towns and villages across the state are now host to a growing number of retail marijuana shops operated by tribal governments. Early adopters include remote tribes like the St. Regis Mohawks, who opened shops well ahead of the state’s licensing process.
Business partnerships between tribal nations and commercial entities help foster economic opportunities on tribal lands while speeding the entry of industry into tribal communities. For instance, the Shinnecock Nation in Connecticut recently joined forces with Tilt Holdings – a national cannabis company – to open a two-story dispensary on their reservation in East Hampton as part of their efforts to promote social equity for Indigenous people and build economic prosperity on their land.
Security
Security is a major concern in the cannabis industry. Tribes have taken measures to safeguard their people and the lands they inhabit, including age restrictions, purchase limits, licensing requirements, and safety assurances.
Some tribes have tolerated unauthorized businesses on their reservations, while others have worked to shut them down. This frustration has fuelled an intense debate among tribal leaders over whether marijuana should be regulated on tribal lands.
Tribal leaders agree that marijuana regulation must not stifle Indigenous people or deny them essential revenue streams. This has resulted in an influx of member-owned dispensaries owned by tribal members.
Environment
Native American tribes have leveraged their sovereignty from state governments to gain a share of the cannabis market. After legalization was passed in several states, these groups began cultivating and selling it for profit.
The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe is one of the first tribes to open a dispensary under its own limited liability company, and their success is spreading. Its managers hope to inspire other tribal governments on how to start their own businesses.
They’ve also acknowledged that as state regulations begin to take effect, tribal-owned dispensaries may soon lose their exclusivity. This poses a concern for both small and suburban groups such as the Cayuga Nation in central New York and the Shinnecock Indian Nation on Long Island.
