Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)

Drug use in Cherokee to come with a price

Possessing drugs on the Qualla Boundary will get a lot more expensive following a decision this month to ratchet up fines for anyone — enrolled and non-enrolled people alike — caught with illegal substances.

The legislation mandates a fine of $1,500 for each illegal substance a person possesses, up to a maximum of $5,000. That’s an even heftier fine than the range of $50 to $500, depending on the substance, originally proposed when the legislation made its way to Budget Council Aug. 2. At the suggestion of Principal Chief Patrick Lambert, Council tacked on an amendment to increase those amounts.

“I want to ask that the amounts on this be doubled or perhaps tripled,” Lambert told council. “Let’s make it real.”

http://www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/18331-drug-use-in-cherokee-to-come-with-a-price

 

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