(Submitted photo/CKOM News)

By Lisa Schick

Legal Cannabis

Unlicensed pot stores on Sask. First Nations ‘unfair’: province

Jul 9, 2019 | 9:18 AM

As a second unlicensed, First Nation-owned cannabis store opens up in the province, the provincial government is looking to Ottawa to deal with unlicensed pot shops on First Nations.

Last week, an unlicensed shop opened up on the Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation. Last fall a shop opened on the Muscowpetung Saulteaux First Nation without a license.

Justice Minister Don Morgan said because this is a situation on a First Nation, it’s a federal issue. But he did say the existence of the unlicensed shops is a problem.

“We’ve got a cannabis framework in this province where people have made investments, established businesses, so to have an unlicensed competitor is unfair for a business point of view, and certainly problematic for us trying to maintain the integrity of the system,” said Morgan.

He also said customers pay a premium for inspected product deemed to be safe, so the unlicensed shops are problematic when it comes to the cannabis they’re selling.

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Morgan said he’s spoken to federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale about this issue, urging steps to be taken. Morgan said Goodale agreed it’s something that needs to be dealt with, but didn’t give a timeline on when that might happen.