Pubdate: Mon, 27 Mar 2017
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Emma McIntosh
Page: A6

POT LEGISLATION TO ROLL OUT NEXT MONTH, REPORT SAYS

CBC News reports Liberals plan to legalize marijuana by Canada Day
2018

The Liberal government plans to announce legislation next month that
will legalize recreational marijuana use nationally by Canada Day
2018, CBC News reported Sunday night.

The report, aired first on CBC's flagship TV show, The National, said
the government plans to introduce the legislation the week of April
10.

Another report, however, indicated the bill would be introduced on
April 20, or 4/20, a symbolic date for marijuana users.

According to the CBC report, Ottawa will secure the country's
marijuana supply and license producers. The national age limit to
purchase the drug will be set at 18, but provinces will be able to set
it higher.

Provinces will also control price, along with how pot is bought and
sold. Also, Canadians who wish to grow their own marijuana would be
limited to four plants per household.

The new rules generally follow the recommendations of a task force
chaired by Anne McLellan, a former justice minister. The task force
delivered a 106-page report in December with 80 recommendations.

Bill Blair, the former Toronto police chief who, as a Liberal MP, was
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's point person on the issue, briefed the
Liberal caucus on the roll-out plan and planned legislation during
meetings over the weekend, CBC said.

Marijuana legalization was a high-profile campaign promise for
Trudeau. Announcing the legislation next month would fulfil the
promise the Liberal government made April 20, 2016, to do so this spring.

Before the CBC's report Sunday night, NDP leadership candidates
debating in Montreal believed the Liberal plan to move ahead on
marijuana legalization was up in smoke and tried to position
themselves as the pro-pot party.

B.C. MP Peter Julian, one of four contenders in the race to replace
Thomas Mulcair as NDP leader, said the federal government had failed
to keep its 2015 campaign pledge to legalize and regulate pot for
recreational purposes.

"I believe in legalization," Julian said during the NDP's second
leadership debate.

Many young people opted to support the Liberals in the last election
due to this promise, Manitoba MP Niki Ashton said.

The Liberals ran a cynical campaign in 2015, added Ontario MP Charlie
Angus, suggesting the Liberals ticked all the right boxes, including
on pot, with no intention of pursuing them.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt