Indigenous protesters block two N.S. highways in response to cannabis crackdown

There was a major protest on a Nova Scotia highway after police raided a cannabis dispensary on Thursday.

Some members of First Nations communities blocked highways in Nova Scotia Thursday to protest police raids of unlicensed cannabis dispensaries.

One protest was held in Chapel Island, N.S., where police say they executed a search warrant at an illegal cannabis storefront on Highway 4 in Potlotek around 7:30 a.m. Thursday. They arrested two men at the scene in relation to the Cannabis Act and seized cannabis products.

Shortly after executing the warrant, a group gathered in the area to protest and blocked access to Highway 4.

“As a result of the blocked access, officers were not able to leave the premises using their vehicles,” the RCMP said in an email. “Officers who had remained on scene departed on foot.”

The RCMP provided an update at 5 p.m. stating Highway 104 at Exit 36B is closed in both directions due to protest activity.

“Motorists are asked to use caution in the area and consider an alternate route,” reads the social media update.

Just after 6 p.m., the RCMP shared another update on social media saying Highway 105 at Peter Wilmot Road in Whycocomagh is reduced to one lane due to protest activity.

No arrests have been made in connection to the protests.

“Individuals have a protected right to lawfully, peacefully, and safely assemble,” said Cpl. Carlie McCann in a statement to CTV News Atlantic on Thursday.

Police add crimes against people or property will not be tolerated.

Highway blockade

Meanwhile, members of the Sipekne’katik First Nation are blocking part of a main highway in Halifax in protest against police raids of unlicensed cannabis dispensaries in Indigenous communities, according to a social media post by Chief Michelle Glasgow.

“It’s not about ‘weed shops’ being raided … it’s about the government asserting jurisdiction over Our Communities and over Our Unceded Mik’maq Lands,” reads the post.

The Nova Scotia RCMP provided an update Thursday afternoon letting drivers know traffic in both directions on Highway 102 was slow between exit 10 at Shubenacadie and exit 13 at Millbrook.

“RCMPNS continues to ask that all drivers on Hwy. 102 use extreme caution. Please consider an alternate route if possible,” reads the social media post from the RCMP.

Tensions have been rising between the provincial government and some First Nations communities since the Justice Department directed police in December to crack down on unlicensed cannabis shops.

With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Sean Mott and The Canadian Press

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