Canada officially legalizes cannabis

The Canadian Parliament has passed a law legalizing adult-use cannabis across the country.

The Cannabis Act passed its final stage yesterday with a Senate vote of 52-29 (and 2 abstentions) in favor of the text. The future law should receive the royal seal this week, and the government will then decide on the official date of entry into force of the law, which should arrive in September. The bill provided for a delay of 8 to 12 weeks to give Canadian provinces and territories time to implement the new regulatory framework.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau explained that so far, «it's too easy for our kids to get marijuana and for criminals to profit from it.»

It's too easy for our kids to get marijuana and for criminals to profit from it. Today, we're changing that. Our plan to legalize and regulate marijuana has just passed the Senate. #PromesseHolding

- Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) June 20, 2018

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Canada is the second country in the world to legalize cannabis, following Uruguay in 2013. the first of the G7. 9 American states also authorize the adult use of cannabis.

Cannabis had been criminalized in Canada in 1923, and its medical use has been legal since 2001.

What does it mean to legalize cannabis in Canada?

In mid-September, Canadians over the age of majority (18 or 19, depending on the province) will be able to legally purchase cannabis grown by the country's licensed producers, in stores or over the Internet.

Adults can carry up to 30 grams of cannabis, or the equivalent in resin or concentrates, in public.

The edibles, cannabis-infused edibles, will only go on sale one year after legalization, while specific regulations are put in place for this type of product.

Each Canadian province is responsible for cannabis distribution, and can set its own rules, for example on where cannabis consumption is permitted.

Canadians will be able to grow 4 plants per household.

It will be illegal to sell cannabis to minors, to grow more than 4 plants without the appropriate license, or to carry more than 30 grams of cannabis in public. Penalties are already being criticized for their severity (14 years' imprisonment for selling to a minor, for example).

The legalization of cannabis in Canada was one of Justin Trudeau's campaign promises, which he made a point of keeping from the beginning of his mandate by mobilizing a task force dedicated to the project.