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KFN's prohibition bylaw already covers cannabis

Nothing needs to change to officially keep cannabis off the Hay River Reserve once the substance becomes legal across Canada on Oct. 17.

K'atlodeeche First Nation (KFN) already has a prohibition bylaw, which until now has been used to try to keep alcohol off the reserve, and it also covers cannabis.

Peter Groenen: CEO of K'atlodeeche First Nation says existing prohibition bylaw on Hay River Reserve already covers cannabis. NNSL file photo

"The prohibition bylaw that's here now talks about intoxicating substances," said Peter Groenen, the chief executive officer for KFN. "It's not alcohol-specific, and so marijuana is already covered in there. So it's banned."

Groenen noted that, when the issue of cannabis legalization arose, band council had its lawyers take a look at the existing prohibition bylaw.

"Our legal counsel has looked at it and say that the way the bylaw is written it's already covered," he said of cannabis.

Groenen noted there are no plans to change the bylaw in light of the coming national legalization of cannabis.

"Not at the moment, anyway," he said, noting there's an election planned in November for the First Nation and a new council might possibly want to raise the issue with the people on the reserve.

Like with alcohol, KFN's efforts to keep cannabis off the reserve are affected by the Hay River Reserve's closeness to Hay River.

"It's going to be here just like alcohol," said Groenen. "Certainly the people here understand that. There's alcohol coming here even though there's a prohibition. Council feels there's still support to keep the prohibition in place because at least it may keep it behind doors instead of out on the street."

Cannabis will be sold legally in Hay River after the national prohibition of the substance ends on Oct. 17.

On July 9, Hay River town council voted to not hold a plebiscite on whether to ban or restrict the drug, opening the door to cannabis sales at the Hay River Liquor Store.

NWT communities have the option of holding a plebiscite on whether to prohibit or restrict cannabis within their jurisdictions in a similar manner to alcohol.

- with files from Sidney Cohen