MASHANTUCKET, Connecticut — The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is considering opening a cannabis retail operation near its Foxwoods Resort Casino property.
The trade publication, Leafly, reported on Monday that Foxwoods plans to open a “mega-dispensary” larger than 25,000 square feet as early as next spring.
Rodney Butler, chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, told the Hartford Courant that legislation enacted by the General Assembly and Gov. Ned Lamont allowing recreational marijuana in the state “recognizes the inherent sovereign rights of Native American tribes and the ability for the state to enter into (a) compact with tribes that would build a more collaborative working relationship in this new industry.”
“Our tribe is exploring all of the options created by the legislation and has no plans to publicly disclose at this time,” Butler said.
In February, the Mashantucket Pequots asked state lawmakers to consider including in cannabis legislation authorization for the state and tribes to “enter into compacts concerning the regulation, production and sale of cannabis by Indian tribes in Connecticut.”
