Global Ganja Report

Tribal authorities in Northern California are reacting angrily to a July 8 raid on two cannabis grows in Modoc County. The operations were owned by the Alturas Indian Rancheria and the Pit River Tribe, on tribal lands . Leaders of Alturas Rancheria released a statement July 15, saying they had tried several times to reach out to the US Attorney's Office as they launched their Medical Marijuana Program, which they asserted complied with state law. The statement also said the tribe coordinated with local agencies. "The Tribe laid everything out for the local authorities to consider," said tribal chairman Phillip Del Rosa. "We told local officials that 'if some aspect of the project concerns you, let us know and we will work with you to address your concerns.'"

Officers from the Bureau of Indian Affairs as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration participated in the raids. Apparently, the feds had been prompted to act by an Alturas tribal member. "The tribe is acting as a beard for private operators who are attempting to use the medical marijuana law of this state and tribal sovereignty for massive personal profit," Wendy Del Rosa wrote assistant US atorney Philip Ferrari in a letter dated May 27. Tribal leaders responded by saying Wendy Del Rosa is a "disgruntled ex-employee" of the tribe who had been fired in September 2014. (Sacramento Bee, July 18; ICTMN, July 17; KRCR, Redding, July 16, Lost Coast Outpost, July 8)

Cross-post to High Times

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