CANADA — Justin Trudeau promised to legalize marijuana in Canada when he campaigned to become prime minister. Wednesday, the Cannabis Act became law, as Canada becomes the first G7 Nation to legalize recreational marijuana.
Canada became the second country after Uruguay to legalise possession and use of recreational cannabis. Medical marijuana has been legal in the country since 2001.
New rules governing cannabis use vary in each of the country’s 10 provinces and three territories. As of Wednesday, Canadian adults will be able to legally purchase the drug for recreational use. While the federally mandated minimum age for consumption is 18, some provinces have opted to raise it to 19, and in the case of Quebec, as high as 21.
Giving marijuana to a minor remains illegal with a maximum sentence of 14 years in jail.