A northern Wisconsin tribe has filed a federal lawsuit against Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel.
The St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin argue the state doesn’t have authority over hemp processing on its reservation and is asking the federal court to rule on whether the tribe has civil authority to grow hemp to produce CBD oil as is planned.
READ MORE: Wisconsin Tribe to Grow Hemp to Treat Health Problems
States like Wisconsin have authority over criminal matters on reservations under the federal Public 280 law. However, the tribal attorney argues the state’s regulation of hemp production and CBD oil make those civil matters that would fall under the tribe’s authority.
Jeff Cormell, general counsel for the St. Croix tribe, said they filed a lawsuit against Schimel because the state’s top law enforcement official objected to the tribe’s plans.
