BUDLEDEC FIRST NATION, NS – A recent RCMP raid on a cannabis shop located on Budledec First Nation has resulted in community protests and allegations of excessive force, CBC News reported Thursday.

According to the broadcast, police executed a search warrant, seizing cannabis products and arresting two individuals. Residents reported that RCMP officers arrived with firearms drawn, causing trauma to community members. Kenny Basque, whose son owns the shop, stated he was articulating treaty rights.

Protesters responded by blocking a highway, resulting in damage to police vehicles, including broken windows, damaged tires, and interiors soiled with urine. The Budledec band council stated it does not condone the actions of the protesters, emphasizing a desire for peaceful demonstration and to be heard.

In December, Nova Scotia’s Justice Minister directed police to increase enforcement against illegal cannabis dispensaries. The provincial government recently passed legislation enacting stricter penalties. The government cited a Health Canada survey indicating higher rates of marijuana use among Nova Scotia youth compared to the national average of 23.2%.

However, the Mi'kmaq community maintains that selling cannabis is a treaty right. The government argues that no legal precedent supports this claim, citing a court decision that emphasizes treaty interpretations must be based on established legal foundations, which, according to the government, have not been established for cannabis sales outside the legal framework.

According to a commentator on the broadcast, the lower court decision is flawed, arguing it fails to recognize constitutionally protected rights. The shop has reopened, but the debate over cannabis sales and treaty rights continues.

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