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Posts published in “Issues”

Brantford police raid sovereign Indigenous cannabis shop on Mohawk lands

A sovereign Indigenous cannabis store operating in downtown Brantford, Ontario was robbed on Tuesday Sept 12th by the Brantford Police department. Sovern 4/20, which opened the day before the raid occurred, is located at 14 Dalhousie Street on lands deeded by the Crown to the “Mohawks and such others of the Six Nations” by the Haldimand Proclamation of 1784.

Stratford police board says ‘no extra attention’ will be paid to unlicensed Indigenous pot shop

The owners of an unlicensed Indigenous pot shop are celebrating after the Stratford police services board said “no extra attention would be paid” to the business at Wednesday’s meeting. From Simcoe Reformer by Galen Simmons September 14 2023 The Indigenous co-owner of an unlicensed medical marijuana dispensary says he feels…

Unlicensed Indigenous-owned pot shop in Stratford draws concerns from police, neighbours

“It is safe and we are taking into account the neighbours,” Jackson said. “Respecting our neighbours and (not) having people hanging around is something we take seriously. We can’t be serving people cannabis and then they get in their car and they drive away after smoking on the premises. And we have no qualms about having a dialogue with anyone in the community. We’re open to that.

First Nations shut out from economic opportunities of the Cannabis Act

‘For the last 150 years, First Nations have been excluded from economic opportunities on their lands,’ says Senate report. From APTN by Kierstin Williams June 15 2023 The Senate standing committee on Indigenous Peoples says that First Nations’ calls for jurisdiction have been ignored by the federal government and they…

NSW police less likely to give Indigenous offenders warnings for minor cannabis offences

A report has found a discrepancy in the state’s cautioning scheme designed to keep people out of court for low-level cannabis offences From The Guardian by Christopher Naus June 6 2023 Indigenous offenders are far less likely to receive warnings for low-level cannabis offences due to the restrictive eligibility criteria…

Fighting for sovereign Micmac rights in Ugpi’ganjig

Chris, Kyle and Cody Caplin are brothers who live at Ugpi'ganjig and who have been on the front lines of the Micmac fight for economic sovereignty for years. Like hundreds of other Indigenous entrepreneurs, when Canada legalized cannabis in 2018, Chris and Cody Caplin opened a sovereign trading post to sell cannabis on reserve. With wide ranging support for the use of cannabis as a medicine in the community, five other cannabis shops followed the lead of the Medicine Cabinet, and have helped to build a thriving cannabis economy in the community.  

‘It’s very frustrating, and it’s scary’: Kanesatake grand chief calling for better security from the SQ

From CTV News Montreal by Daniel J Rowe January 30 2023 Some Indigenous communities in Quebec that are patrolled by provincial police say the established system does not fully meet security needs and needs improvement. Constable Kyle Zachary has served his community as a Kahnawake Peacekeeper for 15 years. Like…

Indigenous South Africa Cannabis Growers Camp In Front Of Presidential Residence In Protest

From Benzinga by Joanna Scopel January 25 2023 Indigenous South African cannabis growers have been camping in front of the President’s office in Pretoria since 2018. “We won’t be moved (…) It’s our right to cultivate cannabis, and enjoy our way of life,” said King Khoisan SA, reported The Cannabis Culture. Khoisan, one…