Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association Releases Map of Tribal Cannabis and Hemp Programs

The Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association (ICIA) last week unveiled a
map of tribal cannabis and hemp programs. In collaboration with cannabis
law firm Vicente LLP, the map was developed through research and interviews
with tribal leaders. The map shows the locations of Indigenous cannabis
programs in blue and hemp programs in red. There are currently 52 tribal
communities that operate federally approved hemp programs, and dozens have
created custom systems to regulate cannabis for both medical and adult use.

About 26% of Indigenous communities in the continental U.S. are involved
with cannabis or hemp programs, according to ICIA data.

In a statement, ICIA Founder Rob Pero said the project “will highlight the
thoughtful work that has gone into these sovereign regulatory programs as
well as how these businesses affect local employment and revenue for
community service.”

“Together, we hope to inform, inspire and empower other Indigenous
communities considering cannabis as well as policy makers around the
world.” — Pero in a press release

Andrew Livingston, director of economics and market analysis at Vicente
LLP, added that “Indigenous cannabis programs are a vital piece of
America’s cannabis movement.”

“And these businesses deserve recognition,” he said in a statement. “The
goal of our study is to provide information on how different Indigenous
communities have established their regulated cannabis programs, the size of
the economic opportunity, and the ways that regulating cannabis can be
structured in the future to further the goals of each community.”

Information for the ICIA map powered is taken from all accessible data,
including the U.S. Department of Agriculture directory, in-market research,
and relationship data, and is current as of April 2024.