Why is toxic waste dumping, gambling, and animal abuse allowed on Indian Reservations... but prostitution & marijuana are not?

We all know Indian tribes sometimes allow gambling in order to either get rich… or just to simply survive. For similar reasons, other Indian tribes allow toxic waste dumping. And a Cherokee tribe in North Carolina encloses bears in concrete pits (literal pits… all concrete… nothing else but food and water). They then charge visitors 5 dollars a person to view or feed the bears from above.

Here’s a pic: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3426/3393836536_537e19e967.jpg

As you would imagine, animal rights groups are starting to protest this. And as you would also imagine… the Indian tribe is defending its economic choices as a sovereign nation.

Although gambling is arguably harmless for most…. certainly animal abuse is something for all citizens to be concerned about, Indian or not.

But what is it with these tribes that are so desperate to prove their sovereignty that they’d allow horrible things to happen on their reservations…. but they still won’t allow prostitution? Why is that? It’s as if the Tribes and the Feds have agreed to do what the Feds want: no bordellos. So why are these particular tribes willing to sell their souls on the prostitution issue, but they’re suddenly sovereign and independent on the animal welfare issues? They’d harm a lot less and earn a lot more if they stop the waste dumps and animal shows and resorted to some Nevada-style houses of ill repute

And for the same reasons, why are no Indian tribes willing to open up Dutch style marijuana coffeehouses? Animal abuse is okay, but pot smoking is so bad they’re willing to accede to the feds? What gives?