By Cam Cameron

On September, 27, 2018, Bill-36 (the Cannabis Statute Law Amendment Act, 2018) was introduced by the Ontario government. If passed, it will, inter alia, enact the Cannabis License Act, 2018, and amend the Cannabis Act, 2017 as well as the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation Act, 2017.

We anticipate that First Nations will generally view Bill-36 as a positive first step. Indeed, since the Federal government passed the Cannabis Act many First Nations have voiced legitimate concerns that the Crown should have acknowledged First Nations right to self-determination and jurisdiction over their reserves concerning cannabis.