KESHENA — Menominee Indian Tribe members will soon have a chance to weigh in on whether marijuana should be legal for recreational and medicinal use on their reservation in northeastern Wisconsin.

The tribe plans to hold a referendum vote on Aug. 19-20 to find out how its members feel about legalizing the drug. Members will be asked whether medical marijuana use should be allowed and whether anyone age 21 or older should be allowed to use the drug recreationally on the Menominee Indian Reservation.

"This is just a start," said Gary Besaw, chairman of the Keshena-based tribe. "We'll see if the tribal membership wants us to move forward and wants us to commit more energy toward this."

In 2013, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a memorandum allowing tribes to grow or sell marijuana on reservations if they follow eight guidelines. Unlike other tribes in the state, the Menominee tribe is able to take advantage of the memo because it answers to federal prosecutors.

If the referendum shows wide-ranging support for legalizing marijuana, tribal leaders want to conduct extensive research, so it could be a while before any new rules are established.

"We have a lot of concern about the social and legal implications that might come with this and we also know what the research is showing on some of the medical implications," Besaw said.

If the tribe decides to proceed with legalization, members will only be able to smoke marijuana legally on tribal land and there will be restrictions on where they can use it in public. They'll also be required to obtain a license in order to grow marijuana.

Many tribal members are in favor of legalizing marijuana, according to WLUK-TV of Green Bay

"I am for it, totally for it," said Kayla Chevalier of Neopit.

Some tribal members are against it, and others don't have much of an opinion.

"I don't care if it gets passed or not. I don't smoke or anything, but I know it helps with medical purposes, so there could be tribal members that need it," said Jon Tucker of Shawano.