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N.S. premier says fentanyl has been found in cannabis from the province's unlicensed dispensaries
Traces of fentanyl have been found in cannabis purchased in some of Nova Scotia’s many unlicensed marijuana dispensaries, the province’s premier said Thursday.
Under fire from First Nations for his government’s directive last week for police to “intensify enforcement aimed at stopping illegal cannabis operations,” many of which are located on reserves, Premier Tim Houston and two of his ministers were even banned by one, Sipekne’katik First Nation, earlier this week. There are rumblings from some of the province’s dozen other Mi’kmaq First Nations about instituting similar bans.
“I’ve talked to people in law enforcement who have told me that in this province that they’ve taken illegal cannabis from unregulated illegal dispensaries and tested it and found that it was laced with traces of fentanyl,” Houston said.
“Sometimes I hear, ‘I don’t buy from the government supply because I don’t get the same buzz.’ Well, that’s probably why.”
Over the years, fentanyl has become the dominant drug on streets across Canada, taking thousands of lives.
Tests have also found “all kinds of pesticides” in black market cannabis, Houston said.
“So, there’s a real public health issue there, and behind it all, in many cases, not all, but in many cases, is organized crime,” he said.
The premier said he’s been “pretty overwhelmed the last few days, to be honest, from the outpouring of support I’ve heard from people in this province that live in First Nations communities and are thankful that somebody is stepping up, because they don’t want this in their communities,” he said.
Houston said he’s heard from parents, “and mothers in particular,” who told him, “My child says: ‘Can we go in the store with the flashing lights and get some candy?’” Houston said.
“They don’t want that.”
Much of the criticism levelled at the Houston government’s directive to police to ramp up efforts against the unlicensed dispensaries focuses on his lack of consultation with First Nations groups.
“Until the end of time, people will be complaining that the government didn’t consult enough, didn’t consult properly, didn’t consult broadly enough,” Houston said.
“I will assure you 100 per cent that we meet and exceed those obligations every single time.”
The premier said those who operate unlicensed cannabis dispensaries — there are an estimated 118 in Nova Scotia — don’t want to lose the revenue they generate.
“The reality is we have people making millions and millions of dollars selling illegal cannabis, and they’re upset to hear that there might be a crackdown on it,” Houston said.
“We also have people who are customers, and some of them think this is an elaborate scheme by the government to get more money from them. It’s not. We’re concerned about the public safety.”
The government has “massive concerns, as do many, many community members across this province, and many many Nova Scotians, about the organized crime element,” Houston said.
“Where does everybody think the money’s going?”
He linked human trafficking to the illegal cannabis issue, but didn’t elaborate.
“We are the voice for the people who are afraid to stand up,” Houston said.
The province has 51 legal Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. (NSLC) outlets that sell cannabis.
“We’re just saying, hey, let’s treat weed like we treat booze,” Houston said. “So, I don’t want to have any discussion about the number of excuses for why this should be allowed to continue.”
When asked why he wants to crack down on cannabis now, he pointed to “the incredible proliferation of these dispensaries. Take a drive down the highway. You might see what I mean.”
Indeed, the section of Highway 102, where it runs through Millbrook First Nation at the centre of the province, is lined with unlicensed cannabis dispensaries.
“I think somebody has to step up, and it should be the government,” Houston said.
Along with Houston, Sipekne’katik banned the province’s Justice Minister Scott Armstrong, and Minister of L’nu (Indigenous) Affairs Leah Martin, as “undesirables” this week and threatened to hit trespassers with $50,000 fines.
“I think it’s bizarre,” Houston said of the ban.
Armstrong said Thursday that cracking down on unlicensed cannabis dispensaries is a priority for the government.
“This isn’t a First Nations issue, this is a public safety issue,” Armstrong told reporters in downtown Halifax. “We have illegal cannabis shops on reserve and off reserve across the province. There are some a stone’s throw from here actually.”
Cannabis sold by the NSLC is approved by Health Canada, he said. “We know what’s in it, we know the potency of what’s in it, and we know it’s pure. That is not the way it is in unlicensed facilities.”
There’s a process that would allow reserves to get their own NSLC outlet that sells legal cannabis, Armstrong said.
“All the proceeds would stay in those communities, and then they use those for positive social programs,” he said, noting there “has been some interest” from the province’s 13 First Nations, though none have signed on yet.
Martin, who is a member of Millbrook First Nation, fended off questions Thursday about whether she should resign over the province’s directive to crack down on unlicensed cannabis shops.
“For every one negative comment you do hear along the way, there is about ten positive people that have reached out since saying wonderful things and saying, ‘Keep going. I appreciate you standing up. I appreciate you doing hard things,’” Martin said.
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