Salt River Pima-Maricopa — Adult-Use Legal Since May 2023

Last verified: April 2026

What SRPMIC Is

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) is a federally recognized tribal nation adjacent to Scottsdale on the east. The reservation covers 52,600 acres and hosts:

• Talking Stick Resort (a destination resort and casino)
• Casino Arizona (a separate gaming facility)
• Salt River Fields at Talking Stick (spring training home of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies)
• Pavilions at Talking Stick (a major retail complex)

The community is made up of two distinct peoples: the Akimel O’Odham (Pima) and the Xalychidom Piipaash (Maricopa). Membership is approximately 10,000.

The Cannabis Vote

The SRPMIC has moved cannabis policy in two stages:

• October 2022: Tribal Council voted 6–2 to authorize a tribal medical-cannabis program.
• March 29, 2023: Tribal Council voted 4–3 to legalize recreational cannabis. The ordinance amended Sec. 6-124 of the SRPMIC Code of Ordinances. Effective date: May 1, 2023.

What the Tribal Law Says

Per the O’Odham Action News, the tribe’s official newspaper:

"Under Sec. 6-124 of the SRPMIC Code of Ordinances, recreational use of marijuana is permitted if the person is at least 21 years of age and the amount is not more than 1 ounce of marijuana, of which not more than 5 grams is in the form of marijuana concentrate."

The rules mirror Arizona’s adult-use Prop 207 framework: 21+ age, 1 oz of flower, 5 g concentrate, 6 plants per adult at a residence in an enclosed locked space.

Tribal Sovereignty & Federal Law

The U.S. Department of Justice’s 2014 "Wilkinson Memo" provided guidance that DOJ would generally not enforce federal cannabis prohibition against tribes that established robust regulatory regimes mirroring state-level frameworks. SRPMIC’s Sec. 6-124 closely mirrors Arizona’s adult-use rules, fitting the Wilkinson Memo framework.

However, federal cannabis prohibition (Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act) remains in effect in 2026 — including Trump-era discussions of rescheduling to Schedule III, which would not legalize but would change penalties and tax treatment. DOJ enforcement priorities can change with administrations.

What Is and Is Not Permitted on SRPMIC Land

What is permitted

• Adults 21+ may possess and use cannabis on SRPMIC land within the tribal-law limits.
• Members and non-members alike are subject to the tribal cannabis framework (with member-specific provisions for cultivation).

What is NOT permitted

• Cannabis at Talking Stick Resort, Casino Arizona, or any tribal gaming facility. All Valley tribal casinos enforce no-cannabis rules regardless of tribal cannabis law due to Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA, 1988) compliance and tribal-state gaming compacts. Visitors should never carry cannabis into a tribal casino, even if (as on SRPMIC land) personal possession off-casino is legal under tribal law.
• Cannabis at Salt River Fields during games. MLB leaguewide policy plus stadium clear-bag rules.
• Cannabis sale outside any future SRPMIC-licensed retail framework. The community has not (as of April 2026) opened tribally owned dispensaries on its land, but allows members to purchase from Arizona-licensed dispensaries.

Cannabis Brought From Arizona Onto SRPMIC Land

The most common practical scenario for non-tribal-member visitors: you buy at a Scottsdale or Phoenix dispensary, then drive across the boundary onto SRPMIC land (e.g., to dine at the Pavilions or attend an event at Salt River Fields).

Under tribal law, possession of up to 1 oz at the destination is legal. Under federal law, the cannabis remains Schedule I — but tribal sovereignty and the Wilkinson Memo framework have generally meant no federal enforcement for personal possession aligned with tribal-law limits. The casino exception remains: do not carry cannabis into Talking Stick or Casino Arizona.

Other Valley Tribes

The other federally recognized tribes adjacent to the Phoenix metro have not legalized adult-use cannabis as of April 2026:

• Gila River Indian Community — south of Phoenix; prohibits.
• Ak-Chin Indian Community — south Pinal; prohibits.
• Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation — northeast of Scottsdale; prohibits.
• Tohono O’odham Nation — mostly southwest of Tucson but operates Desert Diamond Casino West Valley in Glendale; prohibits.

See our Other Valley Tribes page.

SRPMIC’s Cannabis Future

SRPMIC has not opened tribally owned cannabis retail on its land as of April 2026. The community could, in principle, operate its own dispensaries similar to other tribal cannabis enterprises in Nevada, Washington State, and elsewhere. As a major Arizona cannabis-tourism corridor (Talking Stick, Pavilions, Salt River Fields), SRPMIC’s future cannabis strategy could shape the broader Valley market.