Unlicensed cannabis sellers knock on Shawville doors
Tashi Farmilo
Local Journalism Initiative
Published on www.journalpontiac.com on June 18, 2025.
SHAWVILLE – Reports of unlicensed cannabis sellers going door-to-door in Shawville has prompted concern from local officials. While door-to-door sales are permitted under certain conditions in the municipality, cannabis sales are an entirely different matter — governed exclusively by provincial law, and currently illegal outside state channels.
The municipality issued a public notice warning residents that individuals are offering cannabis for sale directly at people’s homes. A flyer circulated locally advertises a delivery service under the name “Highwayz” listing products including BC cannabis, shatter, THC edibles, vape pens, pre-rolls, and CBD gummies. It includes a phone number and email address, suggesting an organized effort to reach customers in the region — without regulatory oversight or licensing.
Mayor Bill McCleary confirmed the town received complaints about the activity and made it clear the group behind it did not seek — and could not receive — a municipal permit.
“That’s not just a town decision. It’s illegal under provincial law.”
“All door-to-door commercial activity in Shawville requires a municipal permit,” McCleary said. “We’ve had issues in the past with various groups. Some were scams; some are legit. So, we implemented a program where, if you want to go door-to-door, you have to come to town hall, explain your project, and get a permit.”
Cannabis is legal in Quebec, but only through a single government-regulated outlet:
the Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC). Sales outside the SQDC — whether through private shops, unregulated online services, or door-to-door delivery — are prohibited.
“You can go door-to-door to sell something, but what you are selling has to be legal,”
said Marc Tessier, spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec (SQ). “The only legal way to
sell cannabis in Quebec is through the SQDC. Anything else is illegal.”
The mayor noted the individuals involved were reportedly from outside the municipality, possibly from an Indigenous reservation. Though that claim remains unconfirmed, it has raised questions about overlapping jurisdictions. Tessier explained that while certain activities, including cannabis sales, may occur legally on reservations under different enforcement regimes, that authority doesn’t extend beyond reserve lands. “You can’t
take the product and go somewhere else,” he said.
In Quebec, the rules around cannabis are stringent. Personal cultivation is banned, public consumption is heavily restricted, and possession limits are tightly controlled — 30 grams in public and 150 grams per household at home. Selling cannabis without SQDC authorization can result in significant penalties, including fines or criminal charges.
Despite the seriousness of the legal breach, municipal enforcement is limited. “Technically, we could enforce the bylaw,” McCleary said, “but our bylaw officer is only here two days a week. So, if a resident feels uncomfortable, it becomes a police matter.”
The SQ confirmed no formal complaints have been received, but urged residents to report any further incidents. “If we’re notified and there’s evidence, we can take action,” Tessier said.
