Cannabis Act: Canada set to legalise marijuana to keep children 'safe'

The government says that more than half of all drug offences reported by police are for possession.

"The proposed legislation, which is introduced today, seeks to legalise, strictly regulate and restrict access to cannabis", said Bill Blair, the MP who is set to lead the government's plans for legalisation.

The plan calls for a legalized-pot system in place by the end of June 2018. It would also collect licensing fees and taxes on marijuana sales, which officials say takes profits away from criminals and organized crime.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, at Thursday's news conference, was asked by numerous reporters about potential problems at the border, and whether Canadians traveling to the U.S.

The legislation sets the minimum age at 18, but allows each province to determine whether the age should be higher. Ottawa is studying whether plain packaging should be required, a government official told reporters.

Canadians would also be permitted to grow up to four plants per residence for personal use, as well as make legal cannabis-containing products at home.

There will also be new provisions against drug-impaired driving, which will be closely scrutinized by critics who fear an increase in the number of cases of impaired driving once marijuana becomes legal. However, people selling marijuana to minor will have to face stiff penalties. For instance, the minimum age for consuming alcohol varies across Canadian provinces.

But the federal task force recommended marijuana not be sold with alcohol.

Goodale argued that the Canadian approach would ultimately prove to be the better one. "It's not an absolute guarantee that kids won't get access to it, but it will be far more hard for kids to get access to it when this new regime is in place than it is today".

Shares of marijuana producers were trading lower following the announcement, though the stocks have seen a run-up in anticipation of legalization.Canopy Growth Corp (WEED.TO) fell 3.8 percent to C$9.92, though the stock has more than tripled in the past year. "Police forces spend between $2 billion and $3 billion every year trying to deal with cannabis, and yet Canadian teenagers are among the heaviest users in the western world".

At the same time, the new system creates harsh penalties for people who sell marijuana to underage people, and boost screening for impaired drivers. "From experience, I know that use of cannabis among our young people is among the highest in the world". Moving pot across global borders "would remain a serious criminal offence" under the new law.

"Each country establishes its own rules", Goodale said. However, crossing the border into the United States, where marijuana has only been legalized in eight states, including California and the District of Columbia, could prove challenging for Canadian pot smokers.

Rob Pederson, a Realtor from Saskatchewan with the travel-advice company Canada to Arizona, said he believes the proposed laws could help his country and redirect drug profits into legal avenues.