By BRENNAN DOHERTY StarMetro Calgary Mon., Nov. 19, 2018 CALGARY—Cashing in on the “green wave” of Canada’s recreational cannabis industry is as much a question of sovereignty as it is profit for some First Nations communities and entrepreneurs. Roughly a month after the Canadian government legalized recreational cannabis, hundreds of delegates filled…
Dispensing Freedom
Saskatchewan's justice minister is to meet next week with the chief of a First Nation that has opened an unlicensed cannabis store.
The provincial government maintains that the First Nation went ahead and opened its pot shop without a provincial license. The First Nation, on the other hand, stated that it passed its own band legislation with an 86 per cent majority voting in favour.
A cannabis store operating outside the Saskatchewan government's regulatory framework is now open in a First Nation community 70 kilometres northeast of Regina after the band passed its own cannabis legislation. Justice Minister Don Morgan said Tuesday the province wants the store to shut down.
Saskatchewan’s justice minister says an unlicensed cannabis store on Indigenous land northeast of Regina is illegal.
In the federal Liberals’ haste to negotiate how they would share all of that delicious, new cannabis tax revenue with the provinces, they totally neglected to consult with Canada’s First Nations communities on the same issue.
Muscowpetung First Nation will open the doors to its own marijuana dispensary under its own cannabis act, the Muscowpetung First Nation Cannabis/Hemp Act.
Meanwhile, about 45 minutes outside Regina, a First Nation is preparing to open its own cannabis store, according to Best Buds Society owner Pat Warnecke.
“We were hoping to be here on day one (of legalization), but I’m glad today we’re able to do it,” says Long Plain Chief Dennis Meeches. “I didn’t think we would be first (in the Central Plains region) but I knew we would be in the mix of things. Central Plains is a fairly large region and it does need to be serviced with a cannabis supply company and I’m glad we’re the one.”
Majority In Kahnawake Okay With Local Pot Sale: Community members had a chance last week to give their thoughts on cannabis sales in Kahnawake with an opinion poll.