Pubdate: Sun, 27 Sep 2015
Source: Ukiah Daily Journal, The (CA)
Copyright: 2015 The Ukiah Daily Journal
Contact: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/feedback
Website: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/581

SHERIFF DID THE RIGHT THING

Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman sent his deputies this week, with 
a warrant. to the Pinoleville Rancheria to put a stop to the 
marijuana growing operation that few believe was any kind of 
legitimate medical operation. Our understanding is that United 
Cannabis, the Colorado corporation that was partnering to help with 
the tribe's claimed medicinal operation pulled out some time ago.

Sheriff Allman had warned the tribe on day one of their operation 
that if they went beyond the limits of California law he would be 
forced to stop them. And so he did. Finding a honey oil lab as well 
as apparent evidence of a for-profit business operation made the 
Sheriff's action inevitable.

The tribe of course says the growing, the processing, the honey oil 
lab, are all perfectly legal, presumably because they believe as 
tribal members they are immune to prosecution.

We hope that's not the case. We do not believe that any tribe should 
have the ability to break the law at will.

And we are disappointed that the U.S. Attorney's Office played hide 
and seek on this case when they should have been out front standing 
behind their avowed belief that tribes do not have blanket authority 
to grow marijuana, medical or otherwise.

We assume the tribe will either sue the county, which will mean a 
federal court case, or that the DA will figure out who should be 
prosecuted and that case will end up on appeal in federal court.

Where tribes are concerned, a federal judge can put the issue to rest 
one way or another.

Sheriff Allman, mandated by PL-280 to enforce all laws, including 
federal laws, on tribal lands, did the only thing he could do - his job.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom