AKWESASNE -- The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Election Board has officially certified the Dec. 14 tribal referendum on the adoption of medical and recreational marijuana regulations on the territory.

The tribe says 86% of voters were in favor of the medical marijuana proposal, and 76% of voters were in favor of adult-use recreational marijuana regulation.

The second referendum question on “Adult Use (Recreational) Marijuana” did not approve any regulations. It simply asked if members supported its legalization subject to future regulations.

The development and subsequent adoption of the Medical Marijuana Ordinance follows a 2016 referendum that approved the tribe exploring the legalization, licensing and regulation of medical marijuana. That passed 175-29.

The tally for recreational marijuana was 155-49.

To assist with the regulation’s development, opportunities will be provided for tribe members to give input and feedback in a series of consultation sessions and public meetings. The dates, times and locations for those discussions will be announced in the future.

Following the adoption of the official referendum results by the Tribal Council through a Tribal Council Resolution, the Medical Marijuana Ordinance requires the establishment of two regulatory bodies to oversee all aspects of its availability within the Territory — the Akwesasne Public Health Authority and the Akwesasne Medical Marijuana Advisory Board.

The three-member Public Health Authority will administer the rules and regulatory requirements of the ordinance, while the five-member Advisory Board will provide guidance on scientific and technical matters. Both regulatory bodies will be filled with members through a community callout and will need to be in place prior to medical marijuana being available in the Territory at a tribally licensed dispensary. The qualifications, responsibilities, and other requirements of board members will be shared in the callout.

To view the Tribal Medical Marijuana Ordinance, people can visit the Tribe’s website at www.srmt-nsn.gov or the Tribal Clerk’s Office in the Ionkwakiohkwaróron Tribal Administration Building at 71 Margaret Terrance Memorial Way, State Highway 37, Akwesasne.