Utoo Radio with Other News Sources - February 6, 2025 - The US government's decision to freeze federal funds has caused confusion and disproportionate impact on Indigenous communities, particularly those operating in the cannabis industry.

The White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo stating a freeze on thousands of government programs, following an executive order from President Trump.

The Trump administration rescinded the memo, leading to widespread confusion about its impact on housing, education, and nonprofits.

The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) expressed concern about the disproportionate impact of the freeze on tribal communities.

The Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association (ICIA) has released a statement addressing the federal funding freeze saga and its impact on the cannabis industry and Indigenous communities.

The ICIA urged Indigenous communities to band together and collaborate on cultivation, processing, distribution, and market access to create a self-reinforcing economic network that benefits all Indigenous nations.

The ICIA also urged businesses in the cannabis industry or under the 2018 Farm Bill to collaborate on cultivation, processing, distribution, and market access to create a stronger, intertribal economy.

It remains unclear how federal funding will be restored and how it will impact federally-funded Indigenous programs.