The business of tobacco - For or Against?

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Turtle Island Native Network
http://www.turtleisland.org

March 3rd, 2012

Tobacco is a burning issue in the Mohawk community of Kahnawa:ke where leaders and citizens are figuring out what to do about the 'business' aspects of tobacco.

This week the community's Legislative Coordinating Commission announced a survey is underway for Request for Legislation "to prohibit sale, manufacture and distribution of tobacco" in the Kahnawa:ke territory. The survey is being conducted until March 30th.

The survey is seeking citizens consideration of the following: 1. The distribution and sale of any and all cigarettes within the Kahnawake territory is hereby deemed illegal. 2. The mass production of any tobacco that is not strictly intended for personal use, such as medicinal, be deemed illegal.

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawa:ke (MCK) also provided the following explanation about the survey: "The MCK would like to be clear that the submission of this Request for Legislation follows the Community Decision Making Process guidelines and, as such, does not necessarily reflect the position of the MCK regarding the manufacture, sale or distribution of tobacco products within the Territory."