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Canada Becomes the Second Nation to Legalize Cannabis

posted by mrpg on Thursday June 21 2018, @10:00AM   Printer-friendly
from the let's-bet-on-the-third dept.

takyon writes:

Canada becomes second nation in the world to legalize marijuana

Recreational marijuana use will soon be legal in Canada after the Senate passed a "historic" bill on Tuesday with a vote of 52-29. Canada is only the second country in the world -- and the first G7 nation -- to implement legislation to permit a nationwide marijuana market. In the neighboring US, nine states and the District of Columbia now allow for recreational marijuana use, and 30 allow for medical use.

Bill C-45, otherwise known as the Cannabis Act, stems from a campaign pledge of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to keep marijuana away from underage users and reduce related crime. The act to legalize the recreational use of weed was first introduced on April 13, 2017, and was later passed at the House of Commons in November. The Senate passage of the bill was the final hurdle in the process.

Uruguay was the first country to legalize marijuana's production, sale and consumption in December 2013.

Also at CBC, BBC, NPR, Reuters, and The Guardian.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 21 2018, @12:47PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 21 2018, @12:47PM (#696163)

    We're not counting the Netherlands for some reason?
    I mean, you can get high there from second hand smoke next to the coffee shops, no need to even buy the stuff.

  • (Score: 3, Informative) by takyon on Thursday June 21 2018, @12:54PM

    by takyon (881) <takyonNO@SPAMsoylentnews.org> on Thursday June 21 2018, @12:54PM (#696164) Journal

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Netherlands [wikipedia.org]

    Cannabis in the Netherlands is illegal, but is decriminalised for personal use. It is allowed to be consumed in coffee shops.

    [...] Cannabis has been available for recreational use in coffee shops since 1976.[5] Cannabis products are only sold openly in certain local "coffeeshops" and possession of up to 5 grams for personal use is decriminalised, however: the police may still confiscate it, which often happens in car checks near the border. Other types of sales and transportation are not permitted, although the general approach toward cannabis was lenient even before official decriminalisation.

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  • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 21 2018, @12:57PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 21 2018, @12:57PM (#696165)

    Indeed, the Netherlands doesn't count as having legalized cannabis [wikipedia.org],

    Cannabis has been available for recreational use in coffee shops since 1976. Cannabis products are only sold openly in certain local "coffeeshops" and possession of up to 5 grams for personal use is decriminalised, however: the police may still confiscate it, which often happens in car checks near the border. Other types of sales and transportation are not permitted ...

    primarily because the production and sale is, for the most part, de jure illegal [wikipedia.org].

    There is an ongoing contradiction, as a coffeeshop is allowed to buy and sell cannabis within the legally tolerated limits, but its suppliers are not allowed to grow or import it, or to sell it to the coffeeshop: "The front door is open, but the backdoor is illegal."