The government said the legislation, known as the Cannabis Act, should be in force no later than July 2018. Now that legalization is taking shape at a federal level-at least in Canada-the tide has officially begun turning for growing sector.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced legislation on Thursday that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana next year. In particular, the bill follows numerous recommendations made in the federal task force, released in late 2016. Canada legalized the use of medical marijuana in 1999, initially with strict controls, but the law was broadened over time.
Tracking the proliferation of legal marijuana across Canada is likely to become a top priority amid signs that the Trump administration is considering restarting the so-called War on Drugs by increasing drug arrests and stiffening criminal sentences for drug dealers.
Tourists visiting the country will be allowed to smoke pot at their pleasure but rules banning the import and export of marijuana will remain in force.
O Canada, we stand on guard for weed.
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale warned police would "come down hard" on illicit drug activities.
Under these rules, individuals would be allowed to grow up to four plants at home for personal use.
Under the proposed legislation, adults 18 years of age and older will be able to legally buy and cultivate small amounts of cannabis for recreational use.
Proposed legislation announced Thursday by the federal government to legalize recreational marijuana as early as next year comes with strengthened laws for offences.
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Shares of licensed marijuana producers were trading lower following the announcement, including Canopy Growth Corp, which was off 2.8 percent to C$10.03, while OrganiGram Holdings Inc slipped 4.8 percent to C$2.95.
While medical marijuana use has been regulated in this country since 2001, cannabis remains a controlled substance.
"It's too easy for our kids to get marijuana". At present, only Uruguay has a national legal regime permitting widespread use of cannabis.
Down in the United States, however, laws for recreational cannabis in the U.S. are still a work in progress.
Many nations have either decriminalized marijuana, allowed it to be prescribed medically or effectively stopped enforcing laws against it.
Canadian Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said that police forces spend between 2 billion and 3 billion Canadian dollars (between 1.5 billion and 2.25 billion US dollars) annually to enforce Canada's existing law against marijuana use.
The provinces also have to figure how they will regulate distribution.
Drug-impaired driving will be heavily scrutinized under this new act, with police being authorized to conduct roadside saliva tests if they have reasonable suspicion that a driver has used cannabis. For instance, advertisers will not be allowed to market pot directly to youths in the same way that tobacco can not use youthful themes. However, that number is now growing.
But laws on drinking will be tightened at the same time.
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