A former Kahnawake Cannabis Control Board (KCCB) member said that part of the reason for her departure is because of a loss of faith in "the integrity of the system," with a meeting between a dispensary license applicant and three Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) chiefs last year deepening her concerns about "political interference."
Darlene Alfred submitted her resignation from the board on Tuesday, less than three weeks after the resignation of Kary Robertson, who had been serving as the KCCB's alternate board member, a role intended to step in during other board members' absences. The KCCB's chairperson, Tara Jacobs, also announced that she would not be seeking reappointment this week, her term having come to an end on the same day as Alfred's resignation. With no board members left, the KCCB's operations are now officially suspended.
"In reality, this is a done deal now. It should be over," said Alfred, who believes that it's unlikely the process of handing out dispensary licenses will continue. "If you don't have a board, no decisions can be made."
Alfred shared her letter of resignation with The Eastern Door, which cites repeated challenges within the cannabis file since her appointment to the office in late 2023. The KCCB is supposed to operate at an "arm's length" from the MCK, meaning that Council is not permitted to interfere in the board's main task of administering and regulating the Kahnawake Cannabis Control Law (KCCL).
Read more at The Eastern Door