ST. JOHN'S, N.L. -- Canada's first-ever legal purchase of recreational cannabis has been made in Newfoundland and Labrador, just after midnight local time.

The historic first sale marks a major shift in drug policy and makes Canada one of the few countries globally to regulate and legalize marijuana for adult use.

Stores in the country's easternmost province were the first to open at 12:01 a.m. local time, ahead of brick-and-mortar outlets in other provinces and territories.

Cannabis NL expected 22 stores to open on Oct. 17, but not all opted to open in the middle of the night to commemorate the event.

Licensed marijuana producer Canopy Growth Corp. opened a Tweed-branded store in St. John's at the late hour while retailer Loblaw Companies Ltd. planned to start selling cannabis at its 10 locations at 9 a.m.

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians were also the first to buy products such as dried flower and oils online after ShopCannabisNL.com launched at midnight local time, ahead of its provincial and territorial counterparts by at least a half hour.