York Region.com
In a significant development for Indigenous business rights, all charges against Jared Big Canoe, an Indigenous entrepreneur and advocate for treaty rights, have been dropped.
The Georgina resident, who had been facing legal action for selling cannabis without an Ontario license, was informed on Jan. 29 that the Crown would withdraw all charges.
Big Canoe, who had been preparing to represent himself at trial, expressed surprise and relief at the decision.
In a significant development for Indigenous business rights, all charges against Jared Big Canoe, an Indigenous entrepreneur and advocate for treaty rights, have been dropped.
The Georgina resident, who had been facing legal action for selling cannabis without an Ontario license, was informed on Jan. 29 that the Crown would withdraw all charges.
Big Canoe, who had been preparing to represent himself at trial, expressed surprise and relief at the decision.
“I was coming into court thinking that I was going to have my trial or at least some conversation about what the outcome would look like. And they just said to me, ‘Hey, we would like to withdraw your charges.’ So I was kind of surprised but very happy to hear that as well,” Big Canoe told YorkRegion.com.
He noted that the decision to drop the charges reinforces his belief that he was within his rights to sell Indigenous cannabis, an issue that has been central to his business and advocacy work.
Big Canoe contends that specific provisions within the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms grant Indigenous peoples the authority to engage in cannabis sales on their traditional lands.
However, as part of the agreement, the Crown retained the seized cannabis and $2,000 in cash, though he was able to retrieve his phone.
“I didn’t push for the money or the cannabis back. I was just glad to have my freedom,” he explained.
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