Canada Plans To Legalize Cannabis By Summer 2018

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Canada’s government will follow through on its promise to legalize cannabis, according to CBC News.

The federal government plans to announce legislation by early April that will legalize cannabis in the country by July 1, 2018.

The legislation is said to be informed by many of the recommendations submitted by the Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation in a November 2016 report.

The task force's recommendations include setting the minimum age to purchase cannabis at 18, allowing up to four cannabis plants per household, and using the revenue to fund “administration, education, research and enforcement.”

The governments of Canada’s 10 provinces will have the option to set their own rules on cannabis, including how much it should cost and whether they’d like to set a higher age limit.

Legalization was one of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s campaign promises. In 2014, he talked about the potential benefits of changing up the country’s weed laws.

“Our current approach is failing our kids,” said Trudeau. “It’s not protecting them from pot, it’s allowing them to access marijuana easier than they access alcohol or cigarettes. Millions of dollars of the trade are being funneled into criminal organizations and street gangs.”

The goal is to take the profits out of the hands of drug traffickers and have more control over regulating and restricting cannabis without outlawing it completely.

Medical cannabis has been legal in Canada since 2013.

Meanwhile in the United States, our new batch of political leaders have made it clear that they don’t see the benefit of reforming our marijuana laws.

“I don’t think America is going to be a better place when people of all ages, and particularly young people, are smoking pot,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions in late February. “I believe it’s an unhealthy practice, and current levels of THC in marijuana are very high compared to what they were a few years ago, and we’re seeing real violence around that.”

The Trump administration has hinted that it will increase enforcement of federal cannabis laws moving forward. However, in the past President Trump has stated that he would respect states’ rights to establish their own cannabis policies.