Secretary-Treasurer Visits Tulalip Tribe to Further LCO's Cannabis Program

By Joe Morey

News Editor

LCO Secretary-Treasurer Bill Trepanier presented a proclamation of support to the Tulalip Tribe of Washington state while visiting the Tribe to tour their cannabis operations, which happen to be the first Tribal-owned dispensary opened up in Indian Country.

His trip was the second in recent months to another Tribe to gain knowledge and insight for the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe and their future cannabis endeavors.

LCO’s cannabis consultant, Thi Le, also accompanied Trepanier to meet with the Tulalip Tribal Federal Corporation and Remedy Tulalip. The pair were treated to a tour of their dispensary on Oct 16th.

This was the second such proclamation of support issued by the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe, the first being the Eastern Band of Cherokee Nation.

According to Thi, the Tulalip Tribal Board of Directors established a system of medical and adult-use marijuana through tribal code back in 2017.

“Their success was largely attributed to strong support from the members,” Thi reported. “Revenue from their marijuana operation has been allocated to services for healthcare, police, and emergency.”

The Tulalip Tribe’s dispensary, Remedy Tulalip, opened its doors in August of 2018 as the first marijuana dispensary in Snohomish County, overall sixth in the state of Washington, and one of the first Tribally-owned adult-use marijuana dispensaries in the United States.

“Since then they’ve continued to flourish as a highly visited dispensary. They employ 30 people, 6 who are Tribal members,” Thi said. “They have considered expanding their operations to a more vertical model, especially since Washington doesn’t offer vertical integration for state-licensees, but they have done pretty well thus far and haven’t designated expansion as a priority.”

According to Thi, the Tulalip Tribe and Remedy Tulalip are prime examples of due diligence and service-oriented experiences that continually improve marijuana operations.

“They have the advantage of being conveniently located off a major highway that is easily accessible to many visitors,” she added.

Trepanier has been doing a lot of research and background work preparing LCO for a future operation whether it be cultivating or sales, or both. In recent months he has traveled to other Tribes that are engaging in cannabis operations, as well as met with organizations and held informational sessions at LCO.

Through all of this planning and research, Trepanier said LCO is moving along quickly and that the cannabis operation could be very profitable for the Tribe.

Trepanier said visiting other cannabis tribes has helped him understand what is needed for LCO to make advancements in cannabis financially and structurally. He said these tribe’s have a model which provides a pathway for our Tribe to succeed.

Trepanier recently told LCO News he favors passing the ordinance and moving forward without waiting for the state of Wisconsin to make cannabis legal.

“We are a sovereign nation, and we need to stress that,” Trepanier said. He explained as a PL 280 Tribe, the local sheriff’s department is responsible for our law enforcement and that they could patrol the county highways through our reservation, but we could still maintain a cannabis operation and they wouldn’t be able to prevent it on federal land.

The sheriff could decide to wait at the border and pull people over as they leave the Reservation, but we hope to work with him and show him our plan, that it’s strong, safe and addresses our use of best practices when it comes to regulation and compliance,” Trepanier noted.

On February 12, 2024, the LCO TGB voted to repeal Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Code of Law GNC.4.4.060 its entirety as it relates to the civil penalties for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, effectively decriminalizing marijuana. This was a first major step in our move towards a cannabis operation.

The proclamation that Trepanier presented to the Tulalip Tribe stated as of November 2023 there are 38 states plus Washington DC and four territories with marijuana legalization, including 24 states–Washington DC, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands–that have legalized adult-use marijuana, serving at least four million medical patients; and

Tribally-owned marijuana retail operations have increased by nearly 25% since 2023 and there are nearly 50 Tribes that own and/or operate marijuana operations across the United States, the majority of which are in Washington.

The proclamation goes on to state that the LCO “Tribal Governing Board recognizes The Tulalip Tribes’ efforts in creating a regulated market that prioritizes public health and safety, community engagement, workforce development, employment opportunities, and economic expansion for their community, underscoring the importance of sovereignty, self-determination, and the right of Tribal nations to manage their resources and economic futures.

“NOW THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED, that the Tribal Governing Board proudly supports The Tulalip Tribe in their continued medical cannabis research, demonstrating formidable dedication to substance-use recovery, health improvement, and enhanced quality of life.

“NOW THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED, that the Tribal Governing Board applauds The Tulalip Tribes for opening one of the first tribally-owned adult-use marijuana dispensaries across the United States following diligent investigations into best practices for cannabis regulation and operations, catalyzing economic development, healthcare improvement, and the assertion of Tribal sovereignty.

“NOW THEREFORE, BE IT FINALLY PROCLAIMED, that the Tribal Governing Board commends The Tulalip Tribe for their integrity in providing a “curated cannabis experience designed for both the connoisseur and the tourist alike, with a focus on offering a unique, informative customer experience,” elevating the standards of wellness-driven services and showcasing exemplary leadership in the cannabis industry.