Canada postpones marijuana legalization

Published on: Feb 16, 2018
Author: Amy Liu
  • As recently as last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government was insisting it was on track for legalization in July.
  • given a new Senate timetable to pass the legislation, Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor conceded Thursday it won’t be done by then.

Packages of marijuana are seen on shelf before shipment at the Canopy Growth Corp.

Canadians will have to wait until at least early August or later to legally purchase recreational marijuana.

As recently as last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government was insisting it was on track for legalization in July.

But given a new Senate timetable to pass the legislation, Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor conceded Thursday it won’t be done in July.

Petitpas Taylor reiterated that provincial and territorial governments need eight to 12 weeks following senate passage and royal assent to prepare for retail sales. That puts it in August and possibly not until a month later.

Legalization would make Canada the second country to have nationwide legalization, after Uruguay.

Each province in Canada is coming up with rules for the sale of recreational pot.

Source: CNBC

Healthcare Services Life Science Pharmaceutical