Bill C-45 Passes, Legal Cannabis Still Months Away

This week the Senate finally passed the bill to legalize and regulate marijuana, however it will not become law until October 17. This 17 week buffer period was originally only supposed to be 8-12 weeks, however some provinces asked for an extension. It is to give the provinces time to get systems in place to facilitate access to legal cannabis through storefronts and other methods. Canada is only the second country in the world to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes nationwide.

 

What does Bill C-45 entail

• Purchase fresh or dried cannabis, cannabis oil, plants and seeds for cultivation from either a provincially or territorially regulated retailer, or directly from a federally licensed producer
• Possess up to 30 grams of dried legal cannabis or its equivalent in public
• Share up to 30 grams of legal cannabis and legal cannabis products with other adults
• Cultivate up to 4 plants at home (four plants in total per household)
• Prepare varying types of cannabis products at home for personal use provided that no dangerous organic solvents are used in the process

Quebec, Mantioba, and Nunavut want to be able to provincially regulate against the 4 plants allowed at home. While the federal government has left it to the provinces to do their own implementation of the new law, the Justice Minister has said the federal government will back up any citizen who takes their province to court over this issue.

Another bill relating to cannabis legalization also passed recently. Bill C-46 strengthens the laws regarding alcohol and drug impaired driving. This law allows for mandatory roadside impairment checks, however the government is still trying to determine the best devices and tests to use to identify “high” drivers.

 

References:

• Trudeau Says Pot will be Legal as of Oct 17, 2018
• A Look at Each Province’s Rules for Marijuana Legalization

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