The co-owner of a controversial cannabis shop on the Fort William First Nation feels his shop is legal.
Steve Lalonde admits he’s had several bumps in the road to opening the shop on City Road.
“That’s for the courts to decide, we have our position. We are working with our Chief and Council and our cannabis committee. In terms of the legality of it, provincial law in terms of the cannabis act doesn’t apply to us, and we can create our own laws.”
Although the co-owner of the shop has filed a lawsuit against the Fort William First Nation, he says he is still open to working with the Chief and Band Council.
“We’ve had some minor disagreements mainly dealing with the time frame, but we are still interested in working with Chief and Council.”
He tells us they opened their doors two days ago and admits local organizations have come to them with concerns.
“We’ve had multiple agencies come and speak to us, and I think some of their concern is where our cannabis is coming from. We clearly state that it is from a nation to nation basis; we have all of our cannabis tested by a lab to make sure it’s fit for human consumption.”
Lalonde feels they are creating economic opportunity on the First Nation by employing band members.
