Canada

Canada Will Bring Legalization Measure in Early 2017

Published on April 20, 2016 · Last updated July 28, 2020

Cannabis legalization just got real in Canada. Or at least it now has a timeline.

In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly’s special session on world drug policy this morning, Canadian Health Minister Jane Philpott announced that the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to introduce legalization legislation in the spring of 2017.

The government’s plan “ensures we keep marijuana out of the hands of children and profits out of the hands of criminals,” Philpott said. “While this plan challenges the status quo in many countries, we are convinced it is the best way to protect our youth while enhancing public safety.”

Philpott’s remarks came one day after Werner Sipp, head of the U.N.’s International Narcotics Control Board, opened the three-day special session with comments blasting adult use legalization. Sipp’s conference opener seemed to have little effect on the Canadian delegation.

“We cannot arrest our way out of this problem,” Philpott said. “Other countries and cultures will pursue approaches that differ from Canada’s,” she added, but if member nations respect different approaches and seek common ground, “we can achieve our objective: protecting our citizens.”

The U.N. conference continues through Thursday.

Shop highly rated stores near you

Showing you stores near
See all stores
Bruce Barcott
Bruce Barcott
Leafly Senior Editor Bruce Barcott oversees news, investigations, and feature projects. He is a Guggenheim Fellow and author of Weed the People: The Future of Legal Marijuana in America.
View Bruce Barcott's articles
Get good reads, local deals, and strain spotlights delivered right to your inbox.

By providing us with your email address, you agree to Leafly's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.



Stay In Touch

Receive updates on new products, special offers, and industry news.

By providing us with your email address, you agree to Leafly's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Leafly mobile app
Get high for less.
Download the Leafly app.
Download Leafly: Marijuana Reviews on the App Store
Download Leafly Marijuana Reviews on Google Play




The material provided on Leafly is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Leafly is not engaged in rendering medical service or advice and the information provided is not a substitute for a professional medical opinion. If you have a medical problem, please contact a qualified health professional.


© 2024 Leafly, LLC
Leafly and the Leafly logo are registered trademarks of Leafly, LLC. All Rights Reserved.