The Kahnawà:ke Cannabis Control Law & Regulations

On March 3, 2021 – the Kahnawake Cannabis Control Law (KCCL) was enacted. The law was drafted and posted for feedback from the community on April 11, 2018.

Upon enactment of the law, the KCCB alongside the MCK Portfolio Chiefs and MCK Legal Counsel, began to draft regulations.

The following regulations were enacted at a duly convened council meeting on October 18, 2021:

• Regulation concerning Cultivation, Processing and Distribution
• Regulation concerning Prices, Royalties and Contributions
• Regulation concerning Licensing Requirements and Procedures
• Regulation concerning Dispensaries and Dispensary Licences

On June 17, 2024, the following regulations were enacted at a duly convened Council meeting:

• Regulation Concerning Registered Suppliers
• Regulation Concerning Alternate Board Members

The application process for cultivation and processing immediately opened to the community upon enactment.

The Kahnawake Cannabis Control Law and its regulations are designed to:

• Protect the health and safety of the Kanien’kehá:ka of Kahnawà:ke and other persons found within the Territory and, in particular to protect the health of young persons by restricting their access and exposure to cannabis and cannabis by-products;

• Protect the jurisdictional integrity of the Territory by ensuring mutual respect and cooperation in relation to jurisdiction, economic advancement and enforcement of Kahnawà:ke’s domestic affairs;

• Facilitate a regulated and controlled cannabis industry that will promote and enhance socio-economic development, fiscal self-sufficiency and tangible benefits for the Kanien’kehá:ka of Kahnawà:ke;

• Provide for the legal cultivation, processing, distribution, sale, possession and use of quality-controlled cannabis within and from the Territory;

• Deter illicit and illegal activities in relation to cannabis, including but not limited to:
  • preventing cannabis from being diverted into the illicit or illegal market;
  • preventing illicit or illegal cannabis from entering the source of supply of the legal cannabis market;

    through appropriate sanctions and enforcement measures.

• Balance the interests of Kahnawà:ke community members who, on the one hand, are opposed to legal cannabis in the Territory with the interests of community members who support the regulated cultivation, processing, distribution, sale, possession and use of cannabis in the Territory.