Peace officers may be appointed as enforcers of the Act alongside police
Nova Scotia has introduced reforms to the Cannabis Control Act that include expanded enforcement, increased fines, and a new offence.
The amendments are intended to bolster public health and safety, according to attorney general and justice minister Scott Armstrong. The legislation was introduced on February 25.
Under the changes, landlords will have committed an offence if they allow premises to be used in distributing or selling cannabis in breach of the Cannabis Control Act. The government will also impose mandatory minimum fines while increasing fine amounts.
Peace officers may be appointed as enforcers of the Act alongside police. Special constables like conservation officers may take on this responsibility.
Moreover, courts may make inferences on whether a product is cannabis through common-sense observations like appearance and odour. The court may also accept Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. certificates as evidence in cases where a person is charged with unauthorized selling, given that the NSLC is the only authorized distributor of cannabis in the province.
“We are strengthening the Cannabis Control Act through expanded enforcement authority, increased fines and addressing evidentiary issues. These amendments will protect our young people and ensure adults who choose to use cannabis can do so safely, with tested and regulated products,” Armstrong said in a statement.
The Cannabis Control Act took effect in 2018. The Act was developed to regulate and control the purchase, possession, sale and distribution of cannabis, as well as to establish related provisions protecting public health and safety, limiting access to cannabis for the youth, and ensuring that recreational-use cannabis is sold legally.
Regulations were amended in April 2025 to permit Mi’kmaw communities to enter into agreements with the NSLC to establish legal, NSLC-regulated cannabis retail stores on reserve. The Cannabis Control Act does not cover activities related to medical-use cannabis or to activities linked to industrial hemp cultivated and produced pursuant to the Industrial Hemp Regulations (Canada) or other federal enactments.
