After Uruguay, Canada becomes 2nd county to legalise recreational cannabis

Canada legalised recreational cannabis. Medical marijuana is already legal in the country since 2001.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who has promised to legalize cannabis in 2014 said that it is a national experiment to restrict heavy use of cannabis in the country. The PM has argued earlier that the country’s law criminalizes the use of the drug but still Canada has remained the largest consumer of cannabis in the world.

He said that the new law was designed to keep the drugs out of the hands of the minors and profits out of the hands of the dealers. The federal government also predicts that it will raise $400m a year in tax revenues on the sale of cannabis.

People throughout the country queued for a chance to buy recreational cannabis legally for the first time.

Ian power became the first person to buy marijuana legally as he was first in line in the easternmost province of Newfoundland and Labrador when the clock struck midnight.

There are still certain aspects of smoking pot that are still illegal. Users must be 18 or 19 depending on the province to purchase. Also, strong penalties will be levied on those selling drugs to minors.

It will be illegal to possess more than 30 grams in public. Also new impaired driving offences has been brought. Smoking pot will remain prohibited while driving and police will be able to demand suspected drivers to take a roadside sobriety test or provide a saliva test for THC, psychoactive compound in cannabis.