in the House of Commons to allow for lesser penalties for the possession of cannabis, while toughening penalties for large drug operations. Full Legalization of Cannabis On October 17, 2018 cannabis became legal in Canada. The purpose of the Cannabis Act is to protect public health, public safety, and to "[...] create a strict legal framework to control the production, distribution, sale, and possession of cannabis across Canada". The Cannabis Act aims to accomplish 3 goals; keep cannabis out of the hands of youth, keep profits out of the pockets of criminals, and protect public health and safety by allowing adults access to legal cannabis. Individuals who are 18 years of age or older can, "[...] possess, in a public place, cannabis of one or more classes of cannabis the total amount of which, as determined in accordance with Schedule 3, is equivalent to more than 30 g of dried cannabis." Canada has begun the process to pardon citizens with past convictions for cannabis possession. "Canada also plans to pardon citizens with past convictions for Cannabis possession". Various studies, research and guides are being created now that cannabis is legal. "[...] informational guides have been coupled with an adequate public education strategy that was only available after legalization." more information can be found on cannabis laws in the page Cannabis in Canada and Cannabis laws of Canada by province or territory. Effects While street prices of cocaine in Canada is higher than they are in South American and East Asian countries; in the four-year period of 1997 to 2001 the street price of the drug fell by almost thirteen US dollars a gram, from $94.3/gram to $81.6/gram. However, since 1995, the Canadian crime rate has been decreasing, from 131 persons per 100,000 incarcerated in 1995 to 107 persons per 100,000 in 2004. Canada is a producer and exporter of both cannabis and ecstasy, a trend that harsher penalties for those caught has failed to stop. Recently, the idea of drug courts has gained popularity in Canada, numbering in the hundreds. These drug courts attempt to divert those that violate controlled drugs regulations from prisons into treatment programs. The Canadian model is based on the American drug court system, which aimed to reduce prison overcrowding after it was found that up to three-quarters of the prison population growth could be attributed to drug offenders. One example of a Canadian drug court