Cannabis was legalized in Canada on October 17, 2018. This made Canada the second country in the world to legalize cannabis nationwide. The first country to legalize cannabis was Uruguay in 2013.

Legalization In Canada

Prior to legalization, cannabis was only legal for medical purposes in Canada. In 2001, the Canadian government passed the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR), which allowed patients with certain conditions to access medical marijuana from licensed producers.

The journey towards legalizing cannabis in Canada began when then-prime minister Stephen Harper introduced Bill C-45, also known as the Cannabis Act. The bill proposed legalizing and regulating recreational cannabis at the national level. On October 17, 2018, it became official that weed would be legal in Canada for recreational and medical weed users and patients.

Cannabis became legal for adults aged 18 and up in all provinces and territories. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government introduced the Cannabis Act, which has a number of objectives.

According To Federal Law:

• Adults are allowed to have up to 30 grammes of legally grown cannabis in their possession.
• Cannabis plants can be grown by adults in their homes up to four times.
• The minimum age for purchase and use is 18, however provinces have the authority to raise the age limit.
• The federal government regulates cannabis manufacturing under licence.
• The provincial government regulates cannabis distribution and sale.
• New regulations have been introduced to address drug- and alcohol-impaired driving.

The approach to legalisation is designed to lessen the hazards of kids using cannabis by discouraging them from doing so. This involves establishing an 18-year-old minimum age. While we know that some persons under the age of 18 will continue to use cannabis, we hope that by discouraging them from doing so, we may assist protect them from the health hazards associated with cannabis use by teenagers. There is an opportunity to address the illicit market and limit its role in our society.