Nova Scotia bill increases fines, strengthens enforcement as part of illegal cannabis crackdown
Global News
Nova Scotia's justice minister says government is 'strengthening' the Cannabis Control Act as the province continues to crackdown on illegal dispensaries.
Nova Scotia’s justice minister says the government is “strengthening” the Cannabis Control Act by tabling legislation as part of a crackdown on illegal dispensaries.
Justice Minister Scott Armstrong says his bill, which was introduced Wednesday, will “protect our young people and ensure adults who choose to use cannabis can do so safely, with tested and regulated products.”
“We are strengthening the Cannabis Control Act through expanded enforcement authority, increased fines and addressing evidentiary issues,” he said in a statement.
After the federal government legalized recreational cannabis in 2018, the province brought in the Cannabis Control Act, which makes the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) the exclusive legal retailer of cannabis in the province.
The new changes to the act include the creation of a new offence for when a landlord allows a place to be used for the illegal sale of cannabis.
The government is also expanding enforcement to allow peace officers, such as conservation officers, to enforce the act.
In December 2025, the province issued a directive for police to “intensify enforcement” to stop illegal cannabis operations.
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