The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan and Indiana and Michigan’s Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) are pleased to announce that they have signed the state’s second tribal-state cannabis compact, granting the Pokagon Band access to Michigan’s licensed adult-use cannabis market.
The Pokagon Band legalized adult-use of cannabis on its tribal land in April 2023 and launched its Rolling Embers retail store and consumption lounge. Until now, Rolling Embers did not have access to Michigan’s licensed adult-use cannabis market, including the ability to transact business with state licensees. The cannabis compact will allow Rolling Embers to access the same wholesale and distribution channels as state-licensed dispensaries and to participate in Michigan’s statewide seed-to-sale marijuana tracking system (Metrc).
“The Pokagon Band and the State of Michigan have enjoyed a long-standing relationship built on mutual cooperation and respect for each other’s sovereignty that benefits both Michiganders and our Tribal Citizens,” said Matthew Wesaw, Tribal Council Chairman for the Pokagon Band. “We are pleased to have agreed on a framework that respects tribal jurisdiction, while accounting for legitimate state interests, to further advance our common goal of expanding commerce in Michigan’s cannabis industry.”
“We are pleased to finalize this compact with the Pokagon Band, which reflects our shared commitment to a safe, equitable, and well-regulated cannabis marketplace in Michigan," said CRA Executive Director Brian Hanna. "This agreement provides regulatory clarity, supports responsible commerce, and advances our mutual goal of protecting public health and safety.”
With this cannabis compact, the Pokagon Band will now be able to:
- Purchase cannabis from and sell cannabis to state licensees
- Transport cannabis outside of its Indian lands for transactions with state licensees
- Integrate into Metrc to track cannabis for transactions with state licensees
- Collaborate with the CRA on inspections and enforcement
The cannabis compact requires the Pokagon Band to share a percentage of its Cannabis Excise Tax with the state to reimburse the state for its costs of administering the cannabis compact. The Pokagon Band will allocate remaining Cannabis Excise Tax revenues to fund essential government programs and projects throughout the region.
Many of the 12 federally recognized tribes in Michigan have expressed interest in pursuing similar compacts, and both state officials and tribal representatives agree that clear, legally binding agreements like this one are necessary to avoid jurisdictional confusion, foster consumer trust, and advance the shared goal of protecting public health and safety.
About The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan and Indiana
The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi’s sovereignty was reaffirmed under legislation signed into law by President Clinton in September of 1994. The Pokagon Band is dedicated to providing community development initiatives such as housing, education, family services, medical care, and cultural preservation for its more than 6,400 citizens. The Pokagon Band’s ten-county service area includes four counties in Southwestern Michigan and six in Northern Indiana. Its main administrative offices are located in Dowagiac, Mich., with a satellite office in South Bend, Ind. In 2007, it opened Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Mich., followed by Four Winds Hartford in 2011, Four Winds Dowagiac in 2013 and Four Winds South Bend in 2018. The Pokagon Band operates a variety of non-gaming businesses through its investment enterprises, Mno-Bmadsen and the Pokagon Development Authority, including Rolling Embers. More information is available at www.pokagonband-nsn.gov, www.fourwindscasino.com and www.mno-bmadsen.com.
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Media Contacts:
David Gutierrez for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, (312) 780-7204, dgutierrez@dresnerco.com
David Harns, Cannabis Regulatory Agency, CRA-Media@michigan.gov
