Canada on Thursday released a plan to legalize recreational marijuana use across the country by July 2018.
The legislation would establish a user's minimum age at 18 years, though individual provinces can raise that legal limit. Youth already think marijuana is harmless, and now we are giving them the governments seal of approval.
The Liberal government has also pledged to have a public campaign rolled out to educate people on the dangers of marijuana use, especially when driving and combined with alcohol and other drugs.
Initially, only fresh and dried cannabis, cannabis oils, seeds and plants would be licensed for sale, but adults could grow up to four plants and make edibles at home for their personal use.
Canada's Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale (left) speaks during a news conference with Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould (center) and Health Minister Jane Philpott in Ottawa, Canada, April 13, 2017. Horizons ETF Management inaugurated the Horizons Medical Marijuana Life Sciences (TSX:HMMJ) on the Toronto Stock Exchange, with 14 marijuana stocks included in the fund, at least for now. The Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada (Neighbourhood Pharmacies) supports the federal government's efforts and urges federal and provincial policy makers not to lose sight of the vital role that Canada's 10,000 pharmacies can play in the safe and secure distribution and dispensing of medical cannabis.
The South American nation of Uruguay is the only nation to legalize recreational pot.
Producing or distributing marijuana outside the government regulation would be considered serious offenses, officials said.
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Down in the U.S., however, laws for recreational cannabis in the USA are still a work in progress.
Zandberg says he views the recommendations, which include setting the national minimum age at 18, but give the right to province to harmonize it with alcohol age minimums, allow provinces to determine distribution but allow mail order nationally, and restrict advertising and promotion in a way that is similar to tobacco, are generally favorable.
The plan is to have a legalized pot system in place by the end of June 2018.
Recreational marijuana usage has been legalized in some form in 26 states and the District of Columbia, and three more are set to join this year, but Canada would be the first Group of Seven country to do so nationally. Panjwani, who owns Honeypot Smokeshop on Drummond Road, said he'd be thrilled to open his own dispensary if the province allows small retail shops to sell marijuana. Goodale, the public safety minister, warned that existing laws banning cannabis will remain in force until the new legislation is passed.
In the United States, seven states allow recreational use of marijuana.
The Canadian government closely followed the advice of a marijuana task force headed by former Liberal Health Minister Anne McLellan.
"Despite decades of criminal prohibition, Canadians - including 21% of our youth and 30% of young adults - continue to use cannabis at among the highest rates in the world". "This needs to be an orderly transition", he said.
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