Menominee Tribe 2015 Federal Raid — ~30,000 Plants Destroyed

The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin was the state’s first tribe to formally pursue cannabis. In 2014 the tribe legalized industrial hemp, medical cannabis and recreational marijuana in tribal code; an August 2015 advisory referendum of the tribe’s ~9,000 members approved both medical and recreational. In October 2015, federal agents (DEA, U.S. Attorney, BIA) raided the reservation and destroyed approximately 30,000 cannabis plants. Then-Chairman Gary Besaw: "armed federal agents who came to our Reservation and destroyed our crop." Tribal lawsuit dismissed 2016.

Legal Disclaimer: This information reflects Wisconsin cannabis law as of May 2026 and is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Laws and regulations change — always verify current rules with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) for Lydia's Law CBD; Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) for hemp or a qualified attorney. Cannabis remains illegal under federal law.

Last verified: May 2026

The 2014 Tribal Authorization

In 2014 the Menominee Tribe legalized industrial hemp, medical cannabis, and recreational marijuana in tribal code. The action made the Menominee one of the first U.S. tribes to authorize comprehensive cannabis policy under tribal sovereignty.

The August 2015 Advisory Referendum

An August 2015 advisory referendum of the Menominee Tribe’s ~9,000 members approved both medical and recreational cannabis. Then-tribal legislator Craig Corn argued that legalization could provide an economic boost. The tribe planned commercial cannabis operations under tribal authorization aligned with the post-2014-Farm-Bill federal hemp framework.

The October 2015 Federal Raid

In October 2015, federal agents (DEA, U.S. Attorney, BIA) raided the Menominee Reservation and destroyed approximately 30,000 cannabis plants that the tribe characterized as industrial hemp grown with the College of the Menominee Nation under the 2014 Farm Bill.

Then-Chairman Gary Besaw:

"Other states cultivate industrial hemp without threats or interference from the United States government. In contrast, when our Tribe attempted to cultivate industrial hemp we were subjected to armed federal agents who came to our Reservation and destroyed our crop."

The Federal Lawsuit (Dismissed 2016)

The Menominee filed federal suit in November 2015 challenging the raid on tribal-sovereignty grounds. The case was dismissed in 2016. Federal courts have generally held that the Controlled Substances Act applies on tribal lands and that federal cannabis prohibition is enforceable against tribal cannabis programs even where the tribe has sovereignty-based authorization.

The 2016 dismissal has chilled tribal cannabis experimentation across Wisconsin’s 11 federally recognized tribes for more than a decade. No commercial tribal cannabis operation has followed the 2015 events.

Tribal Code Today

The Menominee tribal code (Chapter 306) retains a medical-marijuana framework, including a Medical Registration Card system permitting cardholders to possess up to 50 grams without tribal-law penalty. Tribal-law cannabis remains exposed to federal Controlled Substances Act prosecution, and Wisconsin state law applies to non-members on tribal lands.

Current Tribal Posture

Current Menominee Chairman Ronald "Ron" Corn Sr. has not made public cannabis-enterprise statements during 2023-2026; tribal priorities have focused on the proposed Hard Rock Kenosha casino and economic development. The tribal council appears to be in a holding pattern on cannabis pending federal-law clarification.

The Significance for U.S. Tribal Cannabis Policy

The 2015 Menominee episode is one of the foundational events in U.S. tribal-cannabis history:

Demonstrated that federal cannabis prohibition is enforceable against tribal programs.
Demonstrated that tribal-sovereignty arguments do not necessarily prevent federal enforcement.
Established a precedent that has chilled subsequent tribal cannabis programs (especially in WI).
Influenced the 2018 Farm Bill’s explicit federal hemp framework as a way to legitimize tribal hemp programs.

Comparison with Tribal Programs in Other States

Pine Ridge / Oglala Sioux (SD) March 2020 medical+rec referendum; commercial operations; Pennington County non-enforcement.
Flandreau Santee Sioux (SD) 2015 burn-and-relaunch; first SD medical sale July 1 2022.
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe (MN) first MN sale August 1, 2023, ahead of state retail.
Squaxin Island Tribe (WA) compact-state cannabis program.

None of these other tribal programs faced 2015-Menominee-style federal raids. The Menominee experience reflects pre-2018-Farm-Bill federal posture; subsequent tribal programs have operated in a more permissive federal environment.