Mi’kmaq Man Challenges Cannabis Laws with Treaty Rights

0:00A Mike McMahon from Dartmouth faces charges for selling unlicensed cannabis, but his case is now heading to a constitutional challenge over treaty. Right. Thomas Durphy runs businesses he calls treaty truck houses, and a judge recently ruled that those rights won't factor into the early proceedings. Durphy bases his argument on treaties from the 1700s between the Mick Mack and the British Crown, which allow trading posts known as, truck houses. He believes this gives him the right to sell cannabis there without a license. He operates five such spots, offering cannabis alongside local artwork. Durphy hopes a win could set a major precedent for his community and how these old treaties apply to modern cannabis sales. The charges stem from a 2024 police search of his Dartmouth shop, leading to counts of selling and promoting the drug. Court dates for the full challenge gets set on April 10th. This development keeps the focus on balancing indigenous rights with current laws, and will watch for updates as the case unfolds. This has been Canada News Today, powered by AI.