– Justin Trudeau's government pardon those convicted of possession of cannabis
– This new step taken by the northern country will open the doors to a multi-million dollar industry that is already booming with medicinal cannabis..
From today, Canada is positioned in history as the first industrialized country and the second in the world, five years after Uruguay, in legalizing the recreational use of cannabis, which will be available in commerce for around five thousand Chilean pesos per gram (7,7 USD), as reported by international agencies.
The legislation allows 13 provinces and territories organize the sale for adults, with different terms and conditions from one place to another. An adult may possess in public up to 30 grams of cannabis. Up to four cannabis plants can be grown at home, except in Quebec and Manitoba, where cultivation will be prohibited.
The Government has suggested a selling price of about 10 canadian dollars (7,7 USD) per gram of marijuana so that the cost of legal cannabis is competitive with that of the black market. This price includes two taxes: one of 1 Canadian dollar per gram or 10 % of the final sale price, depending on which is the highest; and the provincial sales tax on any product that varies between 13 and the 15 %.
What the law says
The legal age to purchase cannabis is set at 18 years by federal law, but all the provinces and territories have raised it to 19, with the exception of Quebec and Alberta. The newly elected government of Quebec, but nevertheless, promised to raise the age to 21 years.
Provinces and territories are responsible for organizing sales in authorized stores. In six of them it will be dispensed in public stores (like in Quebec), in another four in private premises, and in the case of British Columbia it will be sold in public and private stores.
Online sales will be allowed throughout the country: in ontario, even, It will be the only way to legally acquire marijuana until next spring. The Canadian government estimates that they will open about 300 points of sale throughout the country at the end of the year.
Pardon for the convicted
According to several media outlets on Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government will pardon individuals convicted in the past of possessing up to 30 grams of marijuana. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people can benefit from the measure.
“We are going to work on it as I have already announced., as soon as legalization comes into effect”, Trudeau announced in a press conference.
For many Canadians, criminal history for possession of marijuana for recreational use means they cannot travel to the United States. A conviction for marijuana possession allows US border agents to prevent Canadian residents from entering their country as Ottawa shares with Washington the database containing all of Canada's criminal history.
It is expected that this measure will end the prohibition in said neighboring country, although border authorities stated during the morning that it is not guaranteed that people with a criminal history for possession of marijuana can enter US territory.
It should be noted that the simple admission at the border that an individual has used marijuana at some point in their life is sufficient reason to prevent entry into the United States.. Recreational use of marijuana is legal in nine states plus the city of Washington.
