NS leaders are calling for a moratorium on cannabis raids following last week’s high street protests – Halifax

Mi’kmaw leaders in Nova Scotia are demanding a moratorium on RCMP raids on cannabis stores in their communities.

The call from Maw-lukutijik Saqmaq, also known as the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs, comes after First Nations communities blocked a number of provincial highways in protest last week.

Premier Tim Houston called the blockade “unlawful” in a post on social media, but the chamber said in a release today that all Canadians have the right to protest under the Charter.

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The Atlantic Mi’kmaq community is at odds with the Nova Scotia government over marijuana

Police have stepped up raids on what they call illegal cannabis stores, mostly in Mi’kmaw communities, since the province issued an order calling for a crackdown in December.

First Nations leaders criticized the raids, saying they have treaty rights to sell cannabis.

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The assembly said it wanted a moratorium on raids until they had a chance to hold “nation-to-nation” talks with the province.

“We have long offered solutions to the provincial government on how the Mi’kmaq can exercise our right to self-government and remain transparent with them about how we intend to manage cannabis sales in our communities, but Nova Scotia has not been open to discussions with Mi’kmaw leadership,” assembly chief and Glooscap First Nation Chief Sidney Peters said in a statement.

Provincial government officials did not immediately provide comment Thursday.