Menominee Tribe sues federal authorities over right to grow industrial hemp

KESHENA  — The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin has sued the U.S. Justice Department and Drug Enforcement Agency over the right to grow industrial hemp — a crop related to marijuana — on reservation lands.

Tribal Chairman Gary Besaw says the Menominee should have the same ability as states to cultivate hemp under the Agricultural Act of 2014.

The legislation recognizes a distinction between marijuana and hemp, which can be used to manufacture a range of products and has no psychoactive effect.

The tribe says it had established a hemp crop and that it was wrongfully destroyed last month in a raid that included federal authorities.

Acting U.S. Attorney Gregory Haanstad has said the crop was more than just hemp and that agents seized about 30,000 marijuana plants.

CLICK HERE to read the lawsuit.