Senate Report on Indigenous Cannabis  – Cannabis | Weed | Marijuana

A Canadian Senate committee report on Indigenous cannabis has some common-sense solutions.

The report suggests the federal government reduce cannabis red tape to include more First Nations. In particular, the Senate report suggests giving First Nations authority to regulate their own production and retail of cannabis.

This suggestion is one of many in the Senate report titled “On the Outside Looking In: The Implementation of the Cannabis Act and its Effects on Indigenous Peoples.”

As per the Senate report,

For First Nations, jurisdiction is a complex and contentious issue involving multiple orders of government, making it unclear where law-making authority resides… The regulation of legal [cannabis] activity was left to the provinces and territories. The problem for First Nations, however, is that the Government of Canada decided not to exercise its powers over First Nations and their lands. Instead, the federal government chose to let the provinces and territories determine the sale and distribution of cannabis for First Nations.

Concluding that “First Nations missed out on significant economic opportunities, which are no longer available now that the cannabis market is largely saturated.”

Senate Report on Indigenous Cannabis: 13 Recommendations 

The Senate report on Indigenous cannabis makes thirteen recommendations to the federal government. Some of them are better than others.

Regarding the excise tax that negatively affects everyone – not just First Nations – the Senare report suggests an “excise tax-sharing framework.” The correct solution is to abolish the “sin” tax altogether.

Most recommendations involve throwing money at the problem. Including setting up a brand new “Indigenous-led” public health bureaucracy.

The noteworthy recommendations include #2, 3, 10, and 11.

Recommendation #2 reads:

That the Minister of Health introduce legislation in Parliament to amend the Cannabis Act to permit First Nations to regulate the possession, sale and distribution of cannabis on their lands.

We 100% support new legislation that would decentralize the cannabis industry to local Indigenous communities. The question is: why segregate Canada’s cannabis industry?

As Pierre Elliot Trudeau once said, Canadians believe “in the equality of people without distinction of sex or language or racial origin or religious origin or colour or creed.”

Of course, that belief is now under attack by today’s anti-Enlightenment “progressives.” Trying to build a colourblind society (the original goal of Señor Trudeau’s multiculturism) is now considered racist.

We’re no longer individuals judged by our personal beliefs and actions. We’re members of an identity group judged by the collective actions of our ancestors.

Regardless, the Senate Report’s recommendation is a good one. 

Municipalities tired of federal and provincial overreach could join politically with First Nations. After all, every public meeting begins with the creed that Canadians live on unceded territory. 

You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Sooner or later, the consequences of this ideology will bear fruit.

Medical Cannabis For Some But Not Others

The Senate Report focused on Indigenous participation in the cannabis industry. So it’s not entirely fair to say, “but what about non-Indigenous people?” It was outside the scope of their mandate.

But it’s a common theme in Justin Trudeau’s “post-national” Canada to divide people based on ethnic and cultural lines.

Questioning certain orthodoxies is “far-right.” Peacefully protesting against attacks on civil liberties makes you a “fringe minority,” who “doesn’t believe in science.” Essentially, any criticism of Trudeau and the progressive cult makes you a racist and misogynist.

Therefore, according to this ideology, scrapping medical cannabis for Canadians is morally permissible. But for Indigenous Canadians? Well, the Senate report recommends extensive medical coverage.

Recommendations 10 & 11 suggest Indigenous Services Canada cover the costs of cannabis for medical purposes. It also wants the federal government to work with licensed producers to ensure medical coverage is available for Indigenous Canadians.

Meanwhile, the federal government capped medical cannabis reimbursements for our military veterans.

As well as phasing out the medical program for all Canadians. Including trying to undermine and destroy social cannabis clubs that predate legalization and provide far more reasonable access than the legal regime.

We agree with the Senate report recommending a more robust medical cannabis program. As well as the call to decentralize production and retail to local authorities.

But why stop at Indigenous Canadians? Why not give everybody the same opportunities and freedoms? When did Equality of Opportunity get replaced by Equality of Outcome?

And how is that more just?