Canada Is On The Cusp Of Legalising Cannabis After Key Senate Vote

Canada has moved one step closer to becoming the first G7 nation to legalise cannabis after a key vote was passed in the Canadian Senate.

The vote, which came after six months of debate and discussion, passed by 56 votes to 30 with one abstention, reports the BBC. It was a major legislative hurdle that had to be passed if, as has been promised by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the country is to legalise cannabis by the end of the summer.

The law had previously been passed by the Canadian House of Commons and went up for ratification in the Senate. It has now been passed, but with a raft of amendments that must now again be debated by the Commons.

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There were particular issues held up by Canadian First Nations senators, with the Prime Minister intervening to assure Indigenous politicians that more resources would be committed to mental health and addiction services as a result of the bill.

The law will allow for the legal, regulated sale of cannabis to adults over the age of 21, though the exact nature of the cannabis market will be devolved down to the provincial level, with individual jurisdictions able to set their own rules regarding regulation of sale, home growing and advertising restrictions.

The legalisation of marijuana was a key policy of the Canadian Liberal Party in the election campaign that saw Justin Trudeau return to office in 2015. He had initially planned to legalise weed in July, though it is thought that this will now be delayed until August or September.

Conservative Senators had fought the bill tooth and nail, with many claiming that the Liberal Party was ignoring the advice of medical professionals and police.

"Legalisation should be a last resort if incremental approaches to address cannabis-related harms fail," said Senator Judith Seidman, a Conservative. "Instead, the government has chosen to conduct a grand experiment on the Canadian public, an experiment that cannot be undone."

On the other side, there was an acceptance that legalisation was a result of the failed nature of attempts to outlaw marijuana consumption.

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"Do we take a deep breath, close our eyes and stick with a demonstrably failed, hypocritical, unhealthy, prohibitionist approach of the past or do we move forward, eyes wide open, and choose the alternative?" asked Independent Senator Andre Pratte.

"I choose to open my eyes, rather than put on blinders."

Liberal Art Eggleton added: "There is one thing I know for certain. Our current system is broken. It needs to be fixed."

Medical Marijuana has been legal in Canada since 2001.

Topics: World News, Cannabis, Drugs, Canada

Mike Wood

Mike Meehall Wood is a freelance journalist and translator. He writes for LADbible, VICE and countless sports publications, focusing on rugby league, football and boxing. He is a graduate of Leeds University and maintains a fizzy pop obsession. Contact Mike at [email protected]