By Benjie Cooper
IG: @nuglifenews
YouTube: Lucid’s Vlog
Sunday marked the start of the National Indigenous Cannabis & Hemp Conference at the Grey Eagle Resort and Casino on the Tsuut’ina Nation.
The event is the first of its kind in Canada and will focus on addressing the opportunities and concerns that marijuana legalization under Bill C-45 has created for Indigenous communities.
“It is important that we are all fully informed as to how the legalization of cannabis will affect our communities, From health and safety, to economic benefits, to our treaty rights and sovereignty,” wrote Xájiki (Chief) Lee Crowchild in a letter to the chiefs, councils, and senior managers.
Organizers of the conference will address questions relating to issues such as sovereignty, land and treaty rights, self-governance, economic development, job training, and law enforcement.
“This will be the first cannabis conference to feature leading Indigenous experts from the medical, legal, and business communities with proven experience in cannabis & hemp,” wrote Crowchild. “The conference will include two days of in-depth presentations and panels, followed by an optional day to visit local cultivation, medical, and retail operations.”
Among the list of special guests scheduled to attend is Canadian Minister of Health Ginette C. Petitpas Taylor, third-generation Chief Lee Crowchild, and Beverly Hills Cannabis Club founder Cheryl Shuman.
A trade show will also take place at the conference on Monday and Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. each day.
The National Indigenous Cannabis & Hemp Conference ends on Wednesday, November 21.
