Native Opinion Podcast An American Indian Perspective

HEMP VS POT? Tribes are considering starting crops for both Medical Marijuana, and Indian hemp. But should they? On this episode of Native Opinion, we discuss these issues and more! Discussion points with our guest, Ruth Hopkins: 1.) Excerpt: "Pot and Pretendians" Author: Ruth Hopkins Recently, officers in Sonoma County, California, confiscated marijuana plants from the Oklevueha Native American Church. Members of the church say the plants are sacred and used ceremonially. They’ve since taken the matter to Federal Court, suing Sonoma County, its Sheriff, and the Governor of California, claiming they’ve been discriminated against under the Constitution of the state of California, and alleging rights violations under the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. The members assert that marijuana is integral to their sacraments, just like peyote. There’s just one problem. It’s not. While I’m not a member of the Native American Church, I practice Dakota/Lakota spirituality, and marijuana has not, nor has it ever bee