Tribal Marijuana Possession Laws: Prohibition to Legalization Among Native American Nations

Introduction

Amid the significant evolution of marijuana policy in the U.S., with numerous states adopting more permissive regulations, a notable gap exists in understanding how American Indian/Alaska Native tribes govern marijuana within tribal jurisdictions. This study aims to systematically document the legal status of marijuana possession in tribal laws.

Methods

An archive of tribal possession laws was compiled as of January 2025 using the National Indian Law Library’s Tribal Laws Gateway database, and this was supplemented with internet searches of tribal websites. The retrieved legal documents were then classified into 4 groups: prohibited, decriminalized, medically permitted, and recreationally permitted.

Results

The analysis revealed significant heterogeneity in the marijuana possession laws of 185 tribes, ranging from strict prohibitions with varying penalties to decriminalization, medical legalization, and recreational legalization with diverse policy frameworks. Whereas some tribes had policies aligned with surrounding state laws, others maintained distinct policies that diverged from both state and federal regulations. Marijuana possession remained illegal in many tribes; 16 tribes decriminalized possession, 38 permitted only medical marijuana, and 78 legalized recreational marijuana.

Conclusions

This legal mapping of tribal approaches to marijuana possession provides a novel understanding of the topography and extent of tribal marijuana regulation. It highlights the intricate regulatory environment shaped by tribal sovereignty and state and federal factors. The observed variability shows the need for clear federal guidelines that respect tribal self-governance and support the development of culturally appropriate regulatory frameworks tailored to the unique needs of tribal communities.