Washington State’s Second Native American-Owned Pot Shop Is a Big Win for Tribal Sovereignty

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The state’s second Native American-owned pot shop, Agate Dreams, opened yesterday in a nondescript building on the Suquamish reservation. As I drove past a sign for the grave where Chief Sealth rolls over every time we say “Seattle,” I found myself wondering how big of a deal this really was, given that we’ve already got tons of retail pot shops in Washington.

When I got to the store and talked to members of the Suquamish tribe—who are all rightfully jazzed about it—I realized that it’s very important. Why? Because it’s not just about pot, it’s about tribal sovereignty, economic development, the war on drugs, job creation, and all sorts of other issues.

A couple tribal members came up with the idea after taking a business management course in which they were tasked with presenting ideas for new tribal business ventures. “Their pitch was recreational marijuana,” said Calvin Medina, Agate Dreams’ store manager. “That kind...

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