The chief of the Onion Lake Cree Nation does not like the provincial government’s approach to licensing private marijuana stores in the province.
Wallace Fox says it is arbitrary and fails to respect the sovereignty of First Nations when it comes to jurisdiction and taxation. The Onion Lake Cree Nation is among three First Nations in Saskatchewan that will be eligible for privately-owned marijuana stores.
Chief Wallace Fox says personally, he is not in favour, but says ultimately the decision will be left to band members, leaders and elders. Another thing he takes issue with is the province exercising control on reserve land through its liquor and gaming commission. The commission will license and regulate up to 60 private marijuana retailers in the province.
The chief says this does not represent nation-to-nation respect.
“The province is saying, OK, this is our province, we’re going to license, we are going to regulate, we are going to yadda, yadda, yadda. Well, where’s the autonomy of the signatories to treaty?” he asked.
While Chief Fox says it is too early to say what interest there might be, he says if a marijuana shop opens on reserve land, he would expect taxation would be similar to tobacco, where status Indians would be able to buy the product tax-free at reserve-owned stores.
The chief of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, Peter Beatty, has the same view. He also says he was surprised to learn that the First Nation was on the list of communities that will get private retailers for pot.
Chief Beatty says it is difficult to say how band members will react.
“I don’t know what our members might think,” he said. “I haven’t had feedback, we just learned about this yesterday, we did not ask to be on that list.”
Chief Beatty says there is an economic opportunity, but there are also social and moral issues to consider.
The chief of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Tammy Cook-Searson, also learned only yesterday that the First Nation would be able to have a private pot store.
She says there are many things to consider.
“We also have to look at the social issues in all those things in our community, we have been working on a wellness centre for many years to combat the different social issues we have within our community,” she said.
All three First Nations say they need time and more information in order to make an informed decision, and most importantly, they need community feedback.
In addition to the three First Nations, the northern communities of La Loche and La Ronge will also be eligible for privately-run marijuana stores.
The province is taking the measures to get ready for federal legislation, which will make the use of recreational marijuana legal sometime after July 1.
(PHOTO: Infographic on marijuana sales. Photo courtesy of the Government of Saskatchewan.)