Quebec: the government announces the details of cannabis legalization

Yesterday, the Quebec government announced the details of the Bill 157 which lays the foundations for the future regulatory framework for cannabis and should be active from July 1, 2018.

Health Minister Lucie Charlebois described the legal framework as an «evolving plan». «It's not the end, it's just the beginning. We will certainly have to adapt it.

The intention of Bill 157 is to «prevent and reduce the harm caused by cannabis in order to protect public health and safety, and young people in particular. The project also aims to ensure that the integrity of the cannabis market is preserved.»

The main measures of Bill 157 are :

• a legal age for cannabis use of 18, in line with federal government recommendations
• cannabis will be sold by the Société Québécoise du Cannabis (SQC), which will be administered by the Société des Alcools du Québec (SAQ), thereby confirming that our news. The maximum purchase limit is 30 grams per person.
• individuals will be allowed to carry 30 grams of cannabis on their person and a maximum of 150 grams at home
• maximum 20 stores will be selling cannabis in Quebec on July 1, 2018, for a population of 8.3 million and an area 3 times the size of France. Cannabis will also be sold via a digital platform, in this case distributed by Canada Post.
• self-cultivation of cannabis will be prohibited, not following federal recommendations to allow 4 plants per home. Only government-authorized companies will be allowed to grow cannabis.
• the use of cannabis in combustion or vaporization will be prohibited where tobacco consumption is, more or less confining it to private homes, nature parks and smoking areas (including hospital areas)
• zero tolerance for driving under the influence of cannabis. Any positive saliva test will trigger a 90-day licence suspension.
• visit edibles follow the federal recommendation but any attempt to alter the aroma, smell or color of a cannabis product is prohibited. Vaporizers with terpenized e-liquid will undoubtedly fall under this rule.

The price of cannabis has not yet been set, but a range of 7 to 10$ per gram has been mentioned.

Quebec is also asking the federal government to postpone the opening of the legal market by one year. The province disagrees with the federal government's proposal to share tax revenues from legal cannabis sales equally with the provinces. This request is unlikely to succeed.