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Canada Legalizing Marijuana by end of Summer

Canada Legalizing Marijuana by end of Summer


The Prime Minister of Canada initially said that marijuana would be legalized by the beginning of summer this year, however as of yesterday reports say it has been pushed back to the end of summer.

As reported by Mark Holland – Canada’s parliamentary secretary for the minister of public safety, by the end of September Canadians will be able to legally buy weed. Holland has said “We’re working closely with the Senate and we feel confident, at this time, in that timeline of end of summer that we’re going to see a regime that will control and legalize cannabis.” Bill C-45 passed last week – which legislates the use, sale and cultivation of marijuana – by a vote of 200 – 82.

The delay is due to resistance from the conservative party, arguing that law enforcement need more time to prepare for the legalization of marijuana. Currently law enforcement are ill-equipped to deal with the illegal sale of marijuana, with Holland saying:

“It is a massive problem on our streets and our police are absolutely ill-equipped to handle it. Our cannabis rates are among the highest in the world. So we can put our head in the sand and pretend the problem doesn’t exist, or we can turn the corner and finally start doing something about it.”

To prevent the marijuana industry becoming something similar to the tobacco industry, “We’re making sure that it isn’t attractive to young people. We’re making sure the warnings are present there, and that they can’t use marketing as a tool in the way that tobacco has,” Holland said.