Cannabis Jurisdiction Muddled on Six Nations
Coalition Wants To Sell Cannabis but Police Say It’s Illegal – LPC
The Six Nations People’s Cannabis Coalition (SNPCC) is challenging cannabis jurisdiction by planning to open cannabis stores. But Six Nations Police warn that without an Ontario cannabis retail licence, selling cannabis is illegal.
Six Nations of the Grand River is Canada’s largest First Nation and is located in southwestern Ontario.
Both the Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) and the Six Nations Cannabis Commission (SNCC) backed up the police position. The two bodies released a joint statement.
“It is our responsibility to ensure cannabis businesses on the territory are accountable for their actions,” read statement in part. This must be done by selling cannabis with a legal framework that benefits the people of Six Nations while upholding health and safety.
The statement also underlines that selling cannabis within Six Nations is illegal and “is endangering the health and safety of individuals in our community”.
The SNCC is currently developing its own framework for cannabis sales, according to the report. (Please see link below.)
Several First Nations have felt left behind by the Cannabis Act. Eskasoni First Nation in Nova Scotia wants to open its own First Nation dispensary. Another First Nation in Ontario questioned cannabis jurisdiction on First Nation land. Many say these uncertainties are examples of cannabis and racism.
There are no easy answers in Six Nations. But it’s clear that those answers should come from the First Nations themselves wherever possible, not the provinces or the federal government.
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