The Oneida Indian Nation, which runs Turning Stone Casino and Resort and other Central New York casinos, are branching out into the cannabis as well as maple syrup businesses.
The tribe this month is scheduled to start construction on a full-scale, 50,000-square foot cannabis cultivation and production facility.
Retail locations, which will be announced at a later date and located exclusively on Nation lands, are projected to open in late 2023. The entire cannabis operation, from seed to sale, will be operated by the Oneida Nation.
The cultivation and manufacturing facility will be located on Hill Road in Verona, Oneida County, where the Turning Stone Casino and much of the Nation’s homelands are located.
While New York state has its own regulations, Oneidas will have their own Cannabis Commission, an independent regulatory oversight body which the Nation will create to oversee the safety and compliance of the cannabis business.
The program will be conducted in compliance with the historic 2013 Settlement Agreement between the New York, the Oneida Nation, Oneida County and Madison County.
The Oneida Nation will charge and collect taxes at the same level as New York, and the Nation will dedicate those tax proceeds exclusively to tribal government programs such as public safety, health care, affordable housing, education, and cultural preservation.
The Nation has adopted its own cannabis ordinance and regulations that are comparable to those embodied in state cannabis laws. These include age restrictions and limitations on purchase amounts, employee licensure requirements, and assurances of product safety and quality.
The Nation will also work with the state Office of Cannabis Management to create a joint inspection partnership of their cannabis products.
The Oneida Indian Nation remains open to advancing those discussions if the Office of Cannabis Management wishes to do so.
Construction of the growing facility will include a union Project Labor Agreement with the Central and Northern New York Building Trades Council.
Additionally, consumption of cannabis will remain prohibited at Oneida Nation Enterprises venues, including at all of its casinos, hotels, restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues.
“As more and more states across the country enter into the cannabis business, including neighboring states and other tribal nations, it is important that the Oneida people not be left out from taking advantage of this economic opportunity,” Ray Halbritter, Oneida Nation Representative and Oneida Nation Enterprises CEO, said of the new venture.
Nor is cannabis the only new venture the Oneidas are entering into.
Using some of the forest land they have in their homeland in the area, the tribe is launching a maple farm. The Wáhta’ Maple Farm will be located on Oneida Indian Nation lands and aims to create premium-grade, certified-organic syrup in a variety of flavor profiles.
In addition selling syrup the Oneidas also view the new enterprise as a way to expand understanding of the rich cultural and historical value of maple trees and sap among the Oneida people.
Maple sap plays an important role in Oneida culture. According to tradition, the collaborative effort required to produce maple syrup helps ensure the Haudenosaunee people’s gratitude for this gift, according to the tribe.
“The maple tree has long held an important place in Oneida culture, and the hard work and partnership required to produce maple syrup reflect the ways in which the Oneida people and our partners have worked together to continue the growth and success of our region,” said Halbritter. “We are proud to honor this tradition with Wáhta’ Maple Farm.”
Wáhta’ Maple Farm syrup will be available in the spring at SavOn convenience stores and Maple Leaf Market locations, as well as at Turning Stone Resort Casino and other Oneida properties. They plan to eventually sell to other retail locations throughout the region.
They are preparing their trees now and expect to have lines, which draw the spring sap into large barrels, in the next few weeks.
Their first year projection is to produce 100,000 ounces with the goal of reaching 300,000 by year three.
The initial maple farming areas are on Nation lands about 15 minutes from Turning Stone near some of Nation’s government buildings.
To support future expansion, the Nation also will expand its existing maple stock by planting hundreds of new trees on ancestral homelands.
rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU
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