Trudeau Sets a Date: Canada Will Legalize Cannabis on October 17
Today Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that recreational cannabis will be legal in Canada as of October 17. Trudeau made the announcement during question period in the House of Commons, which is expected to rise for the summer break after today. Trudeau said the government delayed the timetable for lifting the almost century-old prohibition on cannabis at the request of larger provinces, including Quebec, which asked for more time to make the transition to a legal regime for regulating the production, distribution and consumption of cannabis. At an afternoon press conference, Trudeau expressed hope that the nation’s cannabis retail systems will be ready to do business on October 17. On Tuesday, the Senate approved Bill C-45, the bill establishing the new legal regime, after seven months of intensive study and debate. Senators also dropped their insistence on amendments to the bill, most notably one that would have authorized provi...