Government officially introduces legislation to legalize and regulate cannabis

The Government of Canada officially introduced legislation to legalize and regulate and restrict access to cannabis on Thursday.

If passed, the Cannabis Act would establish a legal framework for controlling the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis in Canada.

“Today, we are following through on our commitment to introduce comprehensive legislation to legalize, strictly regulate and restrict access to cannabis and to create new laws to punish more severely those who drive under its influence,” said Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. “The Cannabis Act reflects an evidence-based approach that will protect Canadians’ public health and safety.”

After acquiring Royal Assent, the proposed act would allow adults to legally possess and use cannabis.

In particular, Canadians who are 18 years old and over would legally be allowed to possess up to 30 grams of legal cannabis in public. As well, citizens would be allowed to grow up to four plants per household at a maximum height of one metre from a legal seed or seedling.

The government is intending the proposed legislation to also prevent profits from the production and sale of cannabis from going into the pockets of criminal organizations and street gangs.

“The bills we propose today are aiming at putting drug dealers and organized crime out of the cannabis business,” said Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. “It will allow law enforcement to focus on other serious offences, including the distribution of cannabis to children and youth and driving under the influence of drugs.”

The bill also introduces a number of new penalties and toughens already existing laws regarding alcohol and drug-impaired driving.

For the first time, the bill would make it a criminal offense to sell cannabis to a minor and create significant penalties for those who engage young Canadians in cannabis-related offenses.

As well, the proposed legislation would add new offenses to the Criminal Code to enforce a zero tolerance approach for individuals caught driving under the influence of cannabis and other drugs.

The legislation would also authorize the use of new tools for law enforcement to better detect drivers who have drugs in their body. For example, police officials will be authorized and equipped to use oral fluid drug screeners at the roadside.

“As a former police officer, I know firsthand how easy it is for our kids to buy cannabis. In many cases, it is easier for our children to get cannabis than it is to get cigarettes. Today’s plan to legalize, strictly regulate and restrict access to cannabis will put an end to this,” said Bill Blair, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice. “It will keep cannabis out of the hands of children and youth, and stop criminals from profiting from it.”

Granted the bill receives Parliamentary approval and Royal Assent, the Government of Canada intends to provide regulated and restricted access to cannabis by July 2018.

The proposed legislation follows extensive consultation between multiple levels of government with law enforcement, health and safety experts, and the hard work of the Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation.