Canada legalizes recreational marijuana use

The Canadian Senate on Tuesday gave the final passage to the Cannabis Act, a landmark bill legalizing the purchase and consumption of marijuana.

The bill passed its final hurdle in a 52-29 Senate vote. It is expected to come into force within eight to 12 weeks.

How will Canada’s cannabis market work?

Under the Cannabis Act, or Bill C-45, Canadian adults will be able to:

• Purchase cannabis and cannabis oil produced by licensed growers at various retail locations
• Order marijuana, as well as plants and seeds, online from retailers licensed by the federal government
• Grow up to four marijuana plants in their home for personal use
• Carry up to 30 grams (1 ounce) of marijuana in public
• However, they will not be allowed to buy edibles infused with marijuana for up to a year after the bill comes into force. The government intends to outline regulations for those products over the coming year.

‘Good for kids, bad for criminals’

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who pledged to push for legalization during his 2015 election campaign, tweeted minutes after the vote: “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 and regulate marijuana just passed the Senate.”

“We’ve just witnessed a historic vote for Canada,” Senator Tony Dean, who sponsored the Senate bill, told broadcaster CBC. “The end of 90 years of prohibition. Transformative social policy, I think. A brave move on the part of the government.”

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