A First Nation says it is blockading part of a main highway into Halifax to protest police raids against unlicensed cannabis dispensaries in Indigenous communities.
Tensions have been rising between the provincial government and some First Nations communities since the Justice Department directed police in December to crack down on unlicensed cannabis shops.
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Michelle Glasgow, chief of Sipekne’katik First Nation, said on social media that members of her community have blocked part of Highway 102 near Shubenacadie, N.S., about 50 kilometres north Halifax.
She says the protest isn’t directly about cannabis but about the province asserting jurisdiction over unceded Mi’kmaq lands.
- N.S. First Nation tells government and RCMP to stay out of cannabis and tobacco sales
- N.S. RCMP say officers faced racist comments during raid at Indigenous cannabis store
- They’re ‘trying to break me,’ says N.S. trading post owner of RCMP cannabis raids
- Fact File: Police unaware of any link between human trafficking, N.S. cannabis shops
The RCMP have issued an alert saying Highway 102 near exit 10 is reduced to one lane.
Premier Tim Houston has said that illegal cannabis represents a serious harm to Nova Scotians.
Reading some of the reports, you have police in high tension situations bearing rifles. Like, is someone going to end up taking one, over legalization/recriminalization of pot. Shake my head.
Les, The province wants to monopolize the market through the NSLC.
This is the result of poorly executed cannabis sales regulation and structure by the NS gov. If they would permit some entrepreneurs to open weed barns on the trans-canada, they would be losing much less of the tax revenue to First Nations dispenseries.
Really we should ask ourselves why the First Nations dispenseries are so popular amongst consumers. Is it the covenience, location? Is it the lineup of products? Is it the customer experience? Is it the price point? Realistically the province has something like 2-3 dozen outlets for a quarter of a million cannabis users.
Theres really alot to unpack regarding the current legislation and the industry as a whole.
The mob wants their cut, simple as that
Where are the police riot squads like break up of freedom convoy?
One last war, and the loser takes his bows and arrows and f**KS off!
The treaty’s allow them to sell whatever they grow. Stick to treaties and everything will work out just fine.
What’s with all these illegal shops in the Atlantic region? Why not just get a permit?