Kahnawake cannabis law would restrict access to people 21 and up

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake is proposing its own cannabis laws, separate from federal ones, that would limit access to marijuanato people 21 and older.

A draft of the law has been posted online for all residents to consultover the next 30 days.

• Proposed marijuana rules don't address concerns of Kahnawake Mohawks

The bill would create a KahnawakeCannabis Control Board, in charge of regulating and enforcing the law.

Band council chiefGina Deer says the proposal to restrict the sale of marijuana to those 21 and older came after suggestions from the community and policeservice.

"One of the key elements here is the forming brain, the developing brain and how [cannabis] affects that." Deer told CBC'sDaybreak.

"It's just in line with what we believe is right within our community."

Those wanting to distribute marijuana will not only require approval from Health Canada, but approval from Kahnawake as well.

On Wednesday,First Nations chiefs from acrossCanadacalled on the federal government to amend its own marijuana legislation to preventprovincial regulations from applying on reserves.

A resolution was passed at theSpecial Chiefs Assembly to allow theAssembly of First Nations to lobby the government to make the changes.

• Assembly of First Nations wants provinces, territories to butt out of First Nations pot sales

"The federal and provincial governments must recognize and respect First Nations sovereignty and jurisdiction over their reserves and traditional territories," the resolution says.

Thedirector general of Health Canada's cannabis legalization and regulation branch has said the federal legislation and those of First Nations can both be in place.

"The reality is, the way the legislation is being designed is they are meant to coexist, not meant to step on each other's toes," said Eric Costen.