On June 19th the Canadian Senate passed Bill C-45 (the Cannabis Act), legalizing recreational marijuana for the entire country. The bill passed with a vote of 52-29, making Canada the 2nd country to legalize marijuana nationwide.
Canada is first G7 nation to pass legislation to permit a nationwide marijuana market. In the US, nine states and the District of Columbia now allow for recreational marijuana use and 30 allow for medical use.
The act to legalize recreational use of weed was introduced first on April 13, 2017 and later passed the House of Commons in November. The Senate passage of the bill was the final hurdle in the process.
Uruguay was the first country to legalize marijuana’s production, sale and consumption in December 2013.
Although the Canadian government had initially stated its intent to implement by July 2018, the government is expected to choose a date in mid September. Their provinces and territories, who will be responsible for drafting their own rules for marijuana sales, advised that they would need 8-12 weeks after the Senate approval to transition to the new framework.
On Twitter, Trudeau praised the bill and focused on Canada’s youth. “It’s been too easy for our kids to get marijuana and for criminals to reap the profits. Today, we change that. Our plan to legalize & regulate marijuana just passed the Senate,” he tweeted. #PromiseKept Justice minister, Jody Wilson-Raybould, also applauded the vote.
Adults will be able to carry and share up to 30 grams of legal marijuana in public. They are allowed to cultivate up to 4 plants and prepare products such as edibles for personal use. Stringent rules will still govern the purchase and use of marijuana.
Consumers are expected to purchase marijuana from retailers regulated by provinces, territories or when neither of those options are available, federally licensed producers. Marijuana will not be sold in the same location as tobacco or alcohol. The minimum age for consumption is 18.