LCO TGB Unanimously Votes to Establishes Cannabis Task Force

By Joe Morey

News Editor

In a unanimous decision, the Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Tribal Governing Board passed Resolution 2024-113 on November 18, 2024, to establish the LCO Cannabis Task Force. The task force will focus on developing regulatory plans and exploring opportunities in the cannabis industry.

The resolution builds upon the Tribe’s previous efforts in cannabis regulation. In 2020, the TGB approved Chapter CSV.8 Industrial Hemp Code, which was subsequently submitted to and approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This approval asserted the Tribe’s civil regulatory authority over industrial hemp operations.

With the growing national and tribal interest in medical cannabis—currently legal in 38 states and over 50 tribal nations—the LCO Tribal Governing Board has taken steps to explore cannabis-related business and regulatory opportunities. Since April 2024, tribal members, elected officials, and industry professionals have met monthly under the Wisconsin Indigenously-Integrated Cannabis Advisory Network (WIICAN). These meetings, held on a voluntary basis, have aimed to foster collaboration and strategy development within Wisconsin’s tribal cannabis industry.

Recognizing the importance of formalizing these efforts, the Tribal Governing Board created the Cannabis Task Force to research best practices, attend relevant conferences, and engage industry professionals. The task force will also facilitate informational sessions for tribal members and provide regular reports and recommendations to the Tribal Governing Board on administrative, regulatory, and business strategies related to cannabis enterprises.

The initiative marks a significant step in the Tribe’s approach to cannabis regulation and economic development. With the establishment of the Cannabis Task Force, the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe aims to position itself as a leader in tribal cannabis enterprises while ensuring a well-regulated and informed approach to the industry.

For more information, updates on the task force’s progress, or upcoming public information sessions, tribal members are encouraged to follow announcements from the Tribal Governing Board.

The Resolution describes the purpose of the Cannabis Task Force as:

1)           Investigate best practices in tribe- and state-regulated marijuana operations;

2)           Attend appropriate meetings, conferences, and events that will inform manJuana regulation;

3)           Engage marijuana industry professionals and regulators in legal development, business operations, and cannabis research;

4)           Facilitate member information sessions on cannabis as deemed necessary;

5)           Provide regular reports to the Tribal Governing Board;

6)           Provide to the Tribal Governing Board administrative, regulatory, and business recommendations for the development cannabis enterprises; and

7)           Other tasks requested by the Tribal Governing Board.