8-22-2023 11:18am

New Mexico and North Carolina Tribes Targeted with Stop Pot Act

Chris Edwards Editor

Republican Representative Chuck Edwards proposes cutting all federal funding to tribal nations that have enacted Cannabis Laws. His legislation is an attempt to repeal Native American Sovereignty.

A member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina, is targeting New Mexico and North Carolina Native American Tribal Sovereignty.

A North Carolina congressman has proposed legislation that would defund Native American Nations, block the tribal sovereignty of Native American Tribes and set a precedent for the Federal Government to act against the self determination of Native American peoples within their lands.

His proposal would also deny states rights in self determination and that of tribal nations within their boarders.

Congressman Chuck Edwards proposes a total defunding of Native American Nations and states that have legalized cannabis.

Under the guise of protecting the public from cannabis, Republican Representative Chuck Edwards proposes, a law to be presented to Congress, that if passed l, would overrule tribal self determination and governance around cannabis regulations. But the fact is, if passed, it would set the precedent for the Federal Government to overrule ANY tribal government regulations and control. If passed it would violate years of treaties concerning tribal government sovereignty and the sovereignty of states rights verses Federal Overreach.

This representative of the “party of less government intrusion” submitted an editorial to a newspaper called the “Cherokee One Feather” claiming he was going to introduce federal legislation called the “Stop Pot Act” as a response to tribal self determination related to cannabis policy. He fails to address the fact, if passed this law would set a precedent allowing the Federal Government to override and stop any sovereign decision making by tribal governments at the whim of congress.

A representative of the American Indian Movement who asked to remain anonymous for fear of congressional retaliation stated, “this is yet another example, of white man who stole our lands, to begin again to impose his will and that of his race upon our people. We were removed from our lands years ago, the Federal Government attempted to right a wrong by recognizing the many Indigenous Nations and their sovereignty as independent nations. Now Representative Chuck Edwards, in a racist manner, wants to impose his will on our sovereignty, in the name of pot regulations. You know, and I know, this is just the beginning to strip my people of freedom of self determination. Using Marijuana as the basis of stripping the rights of Native peoples to make decisions on their native lands is a way to get the foot into the door to destroy Indigenous Peoples self rule. Representative Edwards, is wrong in this approach and his threat to defund is retaliatory, rather related to marijuana or any issue. This individual in congress is attempting to CONTROL the rights of Indigenous people and our right of self determination and governance.”

The editorial that sparked this claim, was written by Representative Chuck Edwards and if his proposed legislation passed would end the cannabis business in New Mexico, North Carolina and throughout the United States.

Also as proposed it could strip states rights and end the cannabis business in the 27 states of which cannabis is regulated and sold either for medical reasons or for recreational use.

Per his editorial…

“Since 1996, Congress has shirked its responsibility to uphold the very laws it has passed regarding marijuana.

More and more states are thumbing their proverbial noses at federal laws that declare pot as a Schedule 1 substance under the Controlled Substances Act. And Congress has sat idly by and watched it happen.

In 2014, Congress took its gutless approach even further by enacting legislation that prevents the Department of Justice from using funds to interfere with state medical marijuana laws, which have been passed every year since then.

This issue is about to hit very close to home in western North Carolina: On Sept. 7, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will vote on whether to legalize recreational marijuana for sale and use on its tribal lands.

Here in our beloved mountains, we are already facing unprecedented crime, drug addiction and mental illness. I can’t stand by and condone even greater access to drugs to poison more folks in WNC, not to mention having even more impaired drivers on our roads.

To allow our citizens to travel only a few miles to buy and use this common gateway drug – which the CDC and the New England Journal of Medicine have said can result in short- and long-term danger of addiction, altered brain development, chronic psychosis disorders and others – would be irresponsible, and I intend to stop it…. I am taking this fight to Washington, DC. That’s why I’ll soon be introducing the Stop Pot Act”

Representative Chuck Edwards, not only speaks against the self determination of Sovereign Indigenous People but then he threatens them with retaliation…

“It is important that the tribe understands they will be voting on a measure that, if enacted, could soon be very costly, as the Stop Pot Act will defund governments that ignore federal law. I plan to move forward with this legislation regardless of the results of the tribal vote.”

Defunding Sovereign Indigenous American lands would result in defunding health care, education, infrastructure improvements and the basics and services of many native lands, that already battle with poverty, unemployment opportunities and other serious issues. This legislation is punitive and imposes significant penalties on indigenous communities and states in a manner reminiscent of tactics of apartheid.

Representative Chuck Edwards legislation would impact two Sovereign nations located in New Mexico and defund them of any federal subsidies or support.

The first cannabis dispensary to open on New Mexico tribal lands has been in operation since July 2022. Its owners say federal intervention has not been a problem so far.

According to Santa Fe New Mexican, the Wõ Poví Cannabis shop opened in Pojoaque Pueblo. The shop was able to open under an intergovernmental agreement between the government of New Mexico and Pojoaque and Picuris pueblos. The agreements are meant to keep federal agents from interfering with the two pueblos’ cannabis markets.

Pojoaque and Picuris are two of the 23 tribal nations in New Mexico and the only ones who have publicly pursued regulating cannabis sales and production.

In a statement from Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham via twitter in March, she reaffirmed her support of the rights of the sovereignty of indigenous communities to self govern and make decisions on their own around cannabis; “The economic opportunities provided by the recreational cannabis industry are truly game-changing, projected to bring $300 million in sales annually and create 11,000 jobs across the state, and it is critical that sovereign tribal nations benefit alongside the state.”

According to a story by the Marijuana Minute, “Edwards’s office did not immediately respond to Marijuana Moment’s request for a copy of the forthcoming bill, but in theory, it would cut federal funding not only to EBCI but also to any other jurisdiction where cannabis is legal, including many U.S. states.”

In North Carolina EBCI is one of three federally recognized Cherokee groups, it is a comparatively wealthy tribe, owning its land outright and earning sizable profits from gaming. However, it also receives a significant amount of money from the U.S. government, for example $160 million under the American Rescue Plan in 2021.

The roughly 14,000-member tribe previously decriminalized marijuana possession in 2021 and began putting together a medical marijuana program. And despite delays getting that system off the ground, leaders of the tribe’s marijuana business said recently that they’ve already grown $25 million worth of product.

Representative Chuck Edwards proposed legislation is a direct attack on the sovereignty of the 566 federally recognized Indian tribes in the United States, and their 325 American Indian reservations.

Chuck Edwards legislation also threatens to undermine the states rights and represent a gross example of Federal overreach and are a direct violation of the Republican platform calling for less Federal Government Regulation and a recognition of states rights over Federal Overreach.

Representative Chuck Edwards proposed legislation has far reaching implications reaching, New Mexico’s tribal lands and a variety of states well beyond the “roadways” of North Carolina he claims to protecting.

Native peoples and community leaders in states that allow Cannabis sales are encouraged to contact Representative Chuck Edwards office and voice their concerns about his attack on Native American Sovereignty and States Rights. His contact information is

Chuck Edwards
1505 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC, 20515-3311

Phone: (202) 225-6401
You may email him also at https://edwards.house.gov/contact

In addition, New Mexico tribal representatives and supporters are encouraged to reach out to their New Mexico Congressional Representatives. Reach out and ensure they are protecting the sovereignty of local tribes and the State of New Mexico. The state representatives of New Mexico are…