Catalog
Cigarettes news
Special Offer Armada Red Cigarettes Armada Red Cigarettes $950 Buy Now

Inmates sue for right to use tobacco in ceremonies

A group of inmates at the South Dakota State Penitentiary wants the Department of Corrections to reinstate their right to use tobacco during religious ceremonies after it was taken away because of concerns over addiction and abuse.

A federally recognized inmate group called the Native American Council of Tribes says the way the change was made constitutes a violation of their right to religious freedom, but it is unclear if the group’s federal complaint will be allowed to proceed.

“They would normally need to exhaust all the administrative remedies before a lawsuit can be heard,” said Robert Doody, the American Civil Liberties Union’s Director for South Dakota. “I’m not sure if they’ve done that.”

In October, the DOC rescinded an exception to its system-wide tobacco ban, instituted in 2000, that allowed Native Americans to include it in a blend of herbs smoked during the ceremonies.

“Medicine Men and Spiritual leaders, who lead ceremonies at our facilities, have brought to our attention that it is too addictive to be used for ceremonies,” Director of Prison Operations Douglas Weber wrote in a letter announcing the change.

The letter also noted that inmates had been caught separating the tobacco from the rest of the herbs and selling it to other inmates.

The Native American Council of Tribes’ complaint alleges that the change was made without any hearings or input from the inmates using the tobacco.

 

Tell a friend

Copyright © 2005-2010 CigarettesOn.Net