The Canadian government has introduced sweeping legislation created to permit the recreational use of marijuana throughout the country by July 2018, fulfilling an election promise by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The existing access to medical marijuana will remain unchanged, the bill outlined.
Although the bill would legalize possession across Canada and, in the government's words, "prevent profits from going into the pockets of criminal organizations and street gangs", individual provinces would still determine whether marijuana will be sold commercially.
It makes Canada "the largest federal jurisdiction in the world to legalize cannabis consumption", according to The Toronto Star. At present, only Uruguay has a national legal regime permitting widespread use of cannabis.
The proposal, which the party hopes to make law by July of 2018, sets a minimum purchase age of 18, which is one year below the legal drinking age in most Canadian provinces and three years below the minimum age set in US states that have legalized recreational weed. Those under 18 found with less than five grams of marijuana would not face criminal charges but those who sell it or give to youth could face up to 14 years in jail. The local authorities are responsible for overseeing the retail sale of cannabis. Consumers will be permitted to grow up to four plants themselves, or they will be able to purchase marijuana from licensed retailers. Criminal offenses for illicit production and trafficking will remain in place.
The bills, introduced in the House of Commons by Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, Health Minister Jane Philpott, and Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, first establishes a minimum age of 18 years old to purchase marijuana.
"This must be an orderly transition and not a free-for-all". "This will not be a free-for-all".
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The two bills, if passed, will allow people to possess up to 30 grams of dried or fresh cannabis.
He said the new law will continue to treat cannabis more severely than alcohol.
The government promised to be similarly severe with drugged drivers. Thats slightly lower than the drinking age limit of 19 in most provinces.
Goodale said they've been close touch with the US government on the proposed law and noted exporting and importing marijuana will continue to be illegal. "It will allow law enforcement to focus on other serious offences, including the distribution of cannabis to children and youth and driving under the influence of drugs".
Mayor Greg Dionne said the city has been preparing for the move, but he points out that there's still a long way to go before council will need to craft its own policy.
In Ontario, Canada's most populous province, Premier Kathleen Wynne says it makes a "lot of sense" to use the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, which controls liquor sales and operates around 600 stores in the province, to control marijuana sales as well. "And there is the risk of developing psychosis if you start using cannabis as a teenager".
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