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Cannabis on Canadian Indian reserves

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Cannabis on Canadian Indian reserves became legal under the Cannabis Act on October 17, 2018, subject to local restrictions. First Nations leaders have called for more local control of the cannabis economy on their reserves.[1]

Planning stages

In December 2016, tribal leaders discussed the impacts that legal cannabis would have during the annual Assembly of First Nations. Opinion was divided, with some chiefs calling for a delay in legalization to allow them to make plans, while others were enthused about the economic advantages they expected to come with legalization. There was, however, broad consensus that cannabis regulations on Indian reserves should be left to the members of the community, rather than default to following the province's regulations.[2]

Specific nations

Oneida Nation

In December 2016, the chief of the Oneida Nation of the Thames in Ontario stated that his community was applying for a cannabis cultivation licence. The nation already has a cannabis dispensary, for which they believe they should not need a licence.[2]

Manitoba First Nations

Three nations in Manitoba, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Long Plain First Nation, and Peguis First Nation, formed an alliance with National Access Cannabis in 2016, seeking to gain profit for their communities from legalization, and lobby for their interests on issues such as tax rebates for cannabis sold on reserves.[3]

Tobique First Nation

In October 2016, the medical cannabis dispensary on the Tobique First Nation reserve in New Brunswick was raided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The dispensary was illegal under national law, but was approved by the band council, causing a disjunct and raising issues of tribal sovereignty. The community reacted with anger to the raid, with 50 members forming a blockade to prevent RCMP officers from leaving. The manager of the dispensary stated to news media: "Our laws, our laws... Your laws, your laws."[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Cannabis Regulations On Reserves Must Be Determined By First Nations: Chiefs". civilized.life. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  2. ^ a b "First Nations demand control over cannabis sales". Retrieved 23 December 2017 – via The Globe and Mail.
  3. ^ "'Foolish not to': Manitoba First Nations want in on legal pot sales". cbc.ca. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  4. ^ "'We're either a government or we aren't': Anger mounts on Tobique since dispensary raid". cbc.ca. Retrieved 23 December 2017.

Further reading

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