HALIFAX — The Nova Scotia government has taken a firm stance against illegal cannabis sales, issuing directives for police to enhance enforcement against unauthorized dispensaries. This move includes a request for cooperation from the 13 Mi'kmaq chiefs, aiming to curb on-reserve cannabis sales, which the government claims are rampant.

Justice Minister Scott Armstrong has communicated with the Mi'kmaq chiefs, revealing that there are at least 118 illegal dispensaries operating in their communities. Despite his acknowledgment of this figure, Armstrong admitted to reporters that he lacks precise knowledge about how many of these illegal cannabis stores are specifically located on First Nation land compared to other regions within the province.

Under Nova Scotia law, the sale of cannabis is heavily regulated, creating a framework that legal dispensaries must adhere to. However, the government's crackdowns have been met with significant criticism. Indigenous cannabis advocate Thomas Durfee contends that the government's actions are "blatantly racist" and represent an infringement on Mi'kmaq sovereignty. He argues that, according to treaties established between the Mi'kmaq and the British Crown in the 1700s, he holds a legal right to sell cannabis through treaty truckhouses, which historically function as trading posts.

Currently, Durfee is entangled in a legal battle that is advancing through the provincial court system, following a police raid on one of his cannabis outlets. The situation highlights the ongoing tension between provincial authorities and Indigenous rights holders regarding cannabis sales and regulations.

This development is significant not only in the context of cannabis regulations in Nova Scotia but also raises broader questions about Indigenous sovereignty and the application of provincial laws on First Nations territories.