Quebec: cannabis self-cultivation finally authorized?

As part of the future legalization of cannabis in Canada, the federal government has issued broad guidelines for regulating the production, transportation, processing and distribution of cannabis, leaving the provinces free to regulate certain aspects as they see fit.

For cannabis distribution, for example, the British Columbia and Alberta will allow private stores, while New Brunswick to keep control of cannabis dispensaries which will belong to the State.

The Québec has chosen, she, one of the the strictest regulations, The other provinces have followed the government's guidelines of 4 plants per household. But the French-speaking province could be forced to respect the federal government's decision on the possibility of growing cannabis at home.

Justin Trudeau declared that the federal approach was «the right one» and that each province should follow suit. For him, the ban makes no sense, as the government's decision to allow self-cultivation is based «on facts, on data, on expert recommendations, to create a system that will work.»

This statement followed a decision by the Senate Legal Affairs Committee recommending a change to the Bill C-45 on the legalization of cannabis, to give provinces the right to prohibit the cultivation of cannabis at home. The proposal is to be debated now in the Senate, along with others such as the distribution of cannabis taxes and the possibility of reserving production licenses for growers on land owned or controlled by aboriginal governments (Canada's «Indians»).

The Canadian Senate is due to vote on acceptance of the bill on June 7. Amendments may be proposed after this date until the Senate and Parliament are in agreement.

Justin Trudeau also recalled that the legalization of cannabis in Canada will not be delayed and will indeed take place this summer.

Edit of September 26, 2018: self-cultivation of cannabis will finally be banned, as recalled via the official website on the regulation of cannabis in Quebec.