On 3 March 2026 officers conducted raids at five Indigenous-owned cannabis stores in northeast Nova Scotia under the provincial Cannabis Control Act.[1] The stores were in the 5300 block of Mountain Road in Eskasoni, the 12100 block of Highway 4 in Potlotek, the 1-100 block of Petow Loop in Paq’tnkek, the 9000 block of Highway 105 in Waycobah and the 3500 block of Highway 303 in Conway.[1] Six people who police say were at the stores at the time were charged for operating a store that sells cannabis.[1] The amounts of their summary offence tickets will be determined in court.[1]
Officers seized cannabis, hash, shatter and various tobacco and nicotine products.[1] The force said some of the cannabis was packaged to resemble everyday consumer products such as candy, which it called illegal and a risk that children could accidentally consume the cannabis.[1] Three other people were issued appearance notices for offences under the Nova Scotia Revenue Act involving illegal tobacco.[1] Officers also went to a store in the 3100 block of Highway 12 in Weltons Landing on the Thursday after the raids and found it had closed, with no illegal product found.[1] The investigations remain ongoing.[1]
Chief Terry Paul of Membertou First Nation said the Mi’kmaq in Nova Scotia have a collective treaty right to sell unregulated cannabis and to govern their own people, lands and priorities rather than the province.[1] Justice Minister Scott Armstrong said he disagreed with Paul, adding that he had the utmost respect for him and that they would differ on the issue.[1] In December, Armstrong had called on all Nova Scotia police agencies to prioritize cannabis enforcement against illegal operations and distribution networks, and he said he would be open to meeting First Nation chiefs after the legislature’s sitting wraps up.[1]
