Nova Scotia cracks down on 118+ illegal cannabis stores, citing safety and youth access, despite Indigenous claims of treaty rights.

Nova Scotia is intensifying enforcement against illegal cannabis dispensaries, with Justice Minister Scott Armstrong directing police to disrupt unregulated sales, citing public safety and youth access concerns. The province estimates at least 118 illegal stores operate across Nova Scotia, though it did not confirm how many are on Indigenous reserves. The Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation remains the sole legal retailer under provincial law, a position the government maintains despite claims by some Mi’kmaw leaders and entrepreneurs that treaty rights allow for Indigenous cannabis sales. The directive has sparked criticism, with Indigenous advocates calling it discriminatory and a challenge to self-governance, while the government insists it is enforcing laws uniformly.