Over-the-counter sales and personal use of recreational marijuana became legal throughout Canada on Oct. 17, putting some pressure on the United States to follow suit if only for business reasons.
Canada is now the second country in the world after Uruguay to legalize recreational cannabis for personal use. Media reported the first recreational cannabis to be legally bought in Canada was purchased at 02:30 GMT Wednesday (after midnight in Canada) on the eastern island of Newfoundland. This man and woman were one of the hundreds of people who waited in line to buy marijuana.
Uruguay legalized recreational cannabis in December 2013 under former President Jose Mujica. In the summer of 2017, the government began allowing select pharmacies to sell cannabis without a prescription.
By legalizing recreational cannabis use, Uruguay hopes to reduce the profits drug trafficking creates for organized crime. Legalization also intends to slash the drug-related violence and mitigate the social problems associated with cannabis use.
Canada's "Cannabis Act, Bill C-45" that provides for the legalization was passed by both the House of Commons of Canada and the Senate of Canada on June 18, 2018. It says anyone in Canada over the age of 18 is allowed to possess marijuana, provided it's less than 30 grams. Canadians can also grow up to four marijuana plants in their home and buy from a provincially regulated retailer.
After the approval by Parliament, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted: It's been too easy for our kids to get marijuana -- and for criminals to reap the profits. Today, we change that.
Legalizing rec marijuana use should be a boon to law enforcement. The Department of Justice says most of the drug offenses reported to police around the country have involved marijuana.
C-45 also provides for the government of Canada to oversee the production and manufacturing of recreational weed. Provincial and municipal governments have control over wholesaling, and will also be able to set impose as regards public consumption.
In provinces with no regulated retail framework, Canadians can purchase marijuana online from a federally licensed producer with "secure home delivery."
The government's early estimates of marijuana use range from 650,000 to 900,000 tons on an annual basis. Canada has a small population of only 36 million persons. A U.S. financial services firm estimates the Canadian marijuana market will exceed US$7 billion by 2019.
Trudeau said last week that he would look into pardons for Canadians convicted of cannabis possession. Prior to the new law, simple possession of cannabis was punishable by fines of up to C$1,000 and six months in prison.
