MCK announces Moratorium on Cannabis distribution in Kahnawake

09/11/2017

In response to the upcoming legalization of marijuana in Canada in 2018, the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) announced today that, effective immediately, it has declared a Moratorium on the production, distribution and sale of cannabis within the Territory until such time as the community adopts its own regulations on the matter.

The decision was made at today’s Council meeting and was supported unanimously by all present.

“Whether we like it or not, Canada is going to legalize cannabis,” said Ietsénhaienhs Gina Deer, one of the Council Chiefs working on the file.  “With federal legislation expected within a year, we are prepared to work together with the community to ensure we respect their wishes.”

Results of the recent technical survey indicate that Kahnawa’kehrò:non are leaning towards supporting community-owned licensed Cannabis production in Kahnawà:ke, as long as the sale occurs off the Territory. The sale of legal cannabis on the Territory will be decided by the community through regulations created by Kahnawa’kehrò:non using the Community Decision Making Process.

“It is far better to be careful in dealing with this complicated issue rather than acting too quickly and making mistakes that we can’t undo,” she continued. “With that in mind, we are strongly recommending the creation of our own regulations in the matter of Cannabis and have mandated the Cannabis Working Group to begin drafting potential legislation and regulations. In the meantime the best course of action is to declare this Moratorium.”

“When it comes to Cannabis, we know there are safety issues, health concerns and other matters concerning the social fabric of Kahnawà:ke,” concluded Ietsénhaienhs Deer. “At the end of the day, we have to get this right – not only as the MCK but as a community.”