Six Nations Enacts Cannabis Law
Ohsweken, Ontario (Monday, June 14, 2021) – At a meeting of Council on Wednesday, June 9, Six Nations of the Grand River officially adopted amendments to the Six Nations Cannabis Control Law, and set a coming-into-force date of June 21st, 2021 for both the Law and its attached Regulations.
The newly revised Law, the immediate publication of which was also authorized, formalizes the establishment of the Six Nations Cannabis Commission (the “Commission”) as the sole regulatory and licensing authority over cannabis production and sale on Six Nations Territory so as to safeguard the health, safety, and security of the public.
Since Council adopted the original, provisional version of the Law in 2019, the Commission was set up and has begun accepting licence applications. The Commission has announced that multiple applications have now been received in both the production and retail licensing categories. Upon the coming into force of the new Law on June 21, the Commission will be legally empowered to issue licences to any successful applicants once the relevant application review processes have been completed.
Significant community feedback was received through focus groups, correspondence, and public engagements by Chief and Council. In enacting this Law, SNGR is asserting jurisdiction as governing authority over the regulation of the cannabis industry and is taking an aggressive approach in asserting its law-making powers in accordance with the general conviction of our community that Six Nations laws should apply on Six Nations Territory.
“Our community has always been clear that the cannabis industry, producing a product that can be a mind-changer, needs to be credibly regulated in accordance with our Haudenosaunee values so as to minimize, if not eliminate, any potential risk to public health, safety and security,” said Chief Mark Hill. “This new regulatory regime will ensure protection of our natural and built environment, prevention of monopolistic or improper business practices, and community contributions directed to the well-being of our people.”
“Council’s finalization of the Six Nations Cannabis Control Law is a strong, pro-active step towards securing a safer, more prosperous, and more self-determined future for our community.”
Media Contact:
Six Nations of the Grand River Communications Officer clickers@sixnations.ca
1695 Chiefswood Road, P.O. Box 5000, Ohsweken Ontario N0A1M0