Canada is set to be the first G7 country to legalise recreational marijuana across the country this week after the country’s senators successfully passed the Cannabis Act.
Canadian senators passed the Cannabis Act by 56 votes to 30 with one abstention after studying the landmark legislation for six months. This will would legalise the use and purchase of marijuana for people over 18.
However, medical use has been legal since 2001 and is grown by federally licensed producers.
The vote on Thursday sends the bill back to the House of Commons, where members of Parliament will decide whether to accept the dozens of amendments added to the legislation by the Senate.
According to the country’s health minister, sales of legal cannabis will not be permitted until 12 weeks after the bill finally becomes law.
That is, Canadians will be able to legally buy cannabis by late August or early September.
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Canada would be the first of the G7 countries – a group of seven of the world’s largest economies – to legalise the drug nationwide. Some of the countries, including Canada, have passed legislation allowing marijuana for medical use. Several US states have legalised recreational use of the drug.
Legal cannabis will be heavily regulated, however. Under guidelines from Canada’s public health agency, marijuana products will be sold in plain packaging with limited branding. Packaging will include a yellow health warning and a red stop sign indicating that the product contains cannabis, as well information on the particular strain and THC content.
Adults will only be allowed to carry up to 30g of dried cannabis under the current legislation. Exceeding this amount in a public space – including an individual’s own vehicle – will be punishable by up to five years in prison.
Driving under the influence of cannabis will also be highly punishable. The current proposal puts the penalty for a first offence at a minimum $1,000 fine, with a minimum of 30 days imprisonment for a second offence. Third and subsequent offences will be punishable by a minimum of 120 days.
Canadians, especially the young, are among the world’s heaviest users of marijuana.
