b'CANNABISCannabis Legalization First Nations responding to cannabis legalizationBY LENNY CARPENTERW hen the Canadian government legalizedgovernment also failed to provide resources to the First Nation cannabis last fall, it left First Nations scram- to deal with the implementation of legalization.bling to address the legal and safety implica- In response, Nipissing and other First Nations have created tions in their own communities. their own laws that meet their respective community values.Through the Cannabis Act, a federal legislation, it is legalSix Nations of the Grand River is the largest First Nation to possess, consume, cultivate and purchase cannabis and itsin Canada with around 12,000 people living in the community. byproducts across the country. The act includes provisions for Because the First Nation is surrounded by municipalitiesprovinces and territories to enact their own regulations andincluding the cities of Hamilton and BrantfordChief Ava restrictions, creating confusion on how those laws will impactHill says it was important for Six Nations to implement its own First Nations. cannabis law to ensure the safety of its community members.Because First Nations are federal lands, Nipissing FirstWe have experienced the implications of other substances Nation Chief Scott McLeod says the legalization of cannabisthat have been laced with harmful chemicals, she says. These has created an issue over jurisdiction when it comes to regu- situations have created health and safety implications for not lating cannabis on-reserve. only the users and their families, but alsoour emergency That plus the fact that once again, Canada and the provinceservice providers and health-care providers.essentially marginalized us from any economic opportunities byGiven the proximity to nearby cities, banning cannabis not putting any forethought into how First Nations play a roleoutright would be impractical, Hill says, so creating our own in both regulations and the economic opportunities that (can)cannabis framework sets an expectation of cannabis access in potentially be tapped into, he says, adding that both levels ofthe community.'