MENOMINEE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) – The chairman of the Menominee Indian Tribe is speaking out for the first time since a raid by the DEA last Friday on what he calls their industrial hemp grow.
Gary Besaw says a federal raid should’ve never happened on tribal land, no matter if the plants were industrial hemp or high-grade marijuana. The DEA claims it was high-grade pot.
“We believed we were well within limits,” Besaw told FOX 11. “If it was above limits, we were ready to take the appropriate action.”
Besaw is referring to the limits of THC. Under the 2014 Farm Bill, industrial hemp can’t have a THC level above 0.3 percent. That’s what distinguishes industrial hemp and marijuana.
Besaw says the tribe has tried to work in good faith with federal authorities since it started its hemp operation in early July.
“We had an open door policy,” said Besaw. “Come see us, you can come look, test it. If we were trying anything clandestine, I don’t think that would have been a wise approach to do that.”
According to DEA officials, they seized 30,000 high-grade marijuana plants. A search warrant shows federal agents tested several random plants. An initial test came back negative, with a second being positive.
The warrant also says federal agents found Colorado residents working with the tribe, including one advertising himself on the social media site LinkedIn as a cannabis consultant.
In July, Besaw says he gave federal authorities a list of everyone who would be involved with the hemp project.
“It’s not a secret,” said Besaw. “I’m perplexed by what happened. This doesn’t make sense to me.”
Tribal officials say they plan to go to court in order to get clarification on whether its operation was compliant under the farm bill.
The DEA has said the investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made.
