Canada Expected to Formally Approve Marijuana Legalization on Thursday
OTTAWA On Thursday,the Canadian Senate is expected to approve marijuana legalization legislation in a historic vote. The bill has the support of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and has already passed the House of Commons.
Canada will become the second country in the world to legally regulate all aspects of the marijuana market including production, sale and consumption followingUruguayshistoric move to do so in 2013.
Canada should be applauded for taking bold and decisive steps towards ending the failed prohibition of marijuana, said Hannah Hetzer, Senior International Policy Manager for the Drug Policy Alliance. Canadas progress will galvanize support for drug policy reforms in the U.S. and all around the world.
The Canadian Senate has been studying Bill C-45 for the past six months, and has introduced changes to the version received from the House.
Once it passes in the Senate, it will be sent back to the House of Commons to approve the amendments to the bill, after which the implementation of legal marijuana will begin.
Bill C-45 allows for the possession of up to 30 grams of dried marijuana for adults over the age of 18, stipulates that marijuana must be sold in plain packaging with limited branding, and sets penalties for driving under the influence and sales to minors.
Canada will have a decentralized model, which means that each province will be responsible for much of the ...
