A South Dakota American Indian tribe that sought to open the nation’s first marijuana resort burned its crop after federal officials signalled a potential raid, the tribal president said yesterday.

Flandreau Santee Sioux President Anthony Reider said the tribe had three weeks of discussions with authorities that culminated with a meeting in Washington that included a Justice Department official and US Attorney for South Dakota Randolph Seiler.

Mr Reider said the tribe wasn’t told a raid was imminent - only that one was possible if the government’s concerns weren’t addressed. He said the main holdup is whether the tribe can sell marijuana to non-Indians, along with the origin of the seeds used for its crop.

Fearing a federal raid, a South Dakota Native American tribe is burning its marijuana crop, which it had planned to sell in a resort on its land.

The "marijuana resort" would have been the first of its kind, but concerns that the stockpile could be confiscated led tribe leaders to incinerate it.

The tribe says it wants to show cooperation with federal officials for future negotiations.

Whether the tribe can sell marijuana to non-Indians has come under question.

Representatives for the US Department of Justice did not tell Santee Sioux tribe leaders a raid was imminent, but the government reserves a right to conduct a raid at any time and the tribe would risk one if all the concerns about the resort were not addressed.

An American Indian tribe that planned to open the nation’s first marijuana resort is destroying its crop and suspending the project until it gets legal guidance from the U.S. government. Pictured: Sioux Indians, whose ancestral land is located in South Dakota's Black Hills, perform a ceremony in 1997 at Brompton Cemetery in London.

FLANDREAU, S.D. - After growing a marijuana crop worth millions, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe has decided to suspend its marijuana program.
Tribal attorney Seth Pearman says tribal leaders decided to destroy their current crop and pause production until the tribe can get in contact with the u.s. department of justice.

Since the tribe announce in June that it wanted to legalize marijuana and sell it on the reservation, people have been coming forward, questioning whether or not that's a good idea. And now after Saturday's announcement, many people say they are celebrating the decision.

“Thank God there's an answer to prayer", Flandreau resident, Bart Sample sighed.

Tribe destroying crop; hopes to work out solution with U.S. Department of Justice Buy Photo

Marijuana plants in the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe's growing facility Friday, Oct. 16, 2015, in Flandreau, S.D.(Photo: Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader)Buy Photo

The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe is temporarily suspending its marijuana cultivation and distributing facilities and is destroying its existing crop as leaders seek clarification on regulations from the federal government, according to the tribe's lawyer.

Seth Pearman said the suspension is pivotal to the continued success of the marijuana venture and that tribal leadership is confident that after getting clarification from the U.S. Department of Justice, "it will be better suited to succeed."

New Approach South Dakota is collecting signatures for a proposal to make medical marijuana legal.

The initiative would appear on the 2016 ballot if supporters can collect enough signatures by Nov. 9.

If the proposal appears on the 2016 ballot and is approved by the voters, it would:

• Legalize the medical use of marijuana for patients with a medical practitioner’s certification and one of several listed conditions, including cancer, AIDS/HIV, seizure disorders, PTSD, and severe pain.

• Allow patients and their caregivers to possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis and grow six plants.

• Create a licensing system to provide patients with safe access to medical cannabis, allow businesses to process, dispense and test medical cannabis products.

PIERRE, S.D. — The Flandreau Santee Sioux's plans to sell marijuana in a lounge on tribal land will likely thrust the issue before legislators in the upcoming session, the head of the State-Tribal Relations Committee said Monday.

The committee discussed the tribe's marijuana operation, which is scheduled to open New Year's Eve. Democratic Sen. Troy Heinert, the committee chairman, said he hopes the Santee Sioux and nontribal authorities can find common ground.

Republican Sen. Craig Tieszen said the situation is a "jurisdictional and enforcement nightmare" since marijuana is illegal under state law, and Attorney General Marty Jackley has said any changes in tribal laws won't affect any non-Indians or any nontribal lands.

The Santee Sioux tribe is wasting no time harnessing the lucrative cannabis market after the U.S. Justice Department said last December it would no longer go after possession or sale of the plant on Native American lands.

The tribe, located in South Dakota, is currently converting a bowling alley into a cannabis “smoking lounge,” which is expected to bring $2 million a month in revenue. The grand opening is set for New Year’s Eve.

“Tribal President Tony Reider envisions a hotspot with a stage for performers, a dance floor, a bar, restaurant, smoking lounge and marijuana dispensary.”

GGS Structures Inc. is pleased to confirm that Michael Camplin will be presenting at the Monarch America first educational seminar in conjunction with the Santee Sioux Tribe of Flandreau, South Dakota October 26-28.  Mr. Camplin will be presenting on advanced cultivation facility designs in greenhouses and indoor grow facilities.

"It is a privilege for me to be added as a speaker to such an important event" states GGS Structures Inc. Sales Manager, Michael Camplin.

GGS Structures Inc. is a diversified manufacturer and part of the Growers Greenhouse Supplies group of companies. GGS was started in 1979 as a manufacturer of greenhouse structures for commercial agriculture.  Since then they have expanded both geographically and through product lines and market segments.