Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce what may prove to be the defining legislation of his term in office: the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Trudeau, who’s talked about his own marijuana use in the past, promised to legalize pot during the last federal election campaign but waited until last month to tell his Liberal caucus that the legislation would become law on July 1, 2018 — which happens to be the day that Canadians celebrate nationhood.
But according to CBC News, that date isn’t sitting well with Trudeau or many in the Liberal caucus because it makes Canada look like a nation that celebrates marijuana use — which many critics say is precisely what Trudeau is doing.
So the goal for legalization has been changed to “on or before July 1, 2018.”
The legalization issue may prove troublesome for provincial authorities who aren’t sure where and how they are going to sell the drug.
To alleviate the noise, Trudeau appointed a former Toronto chief of police to head the legalization effort. Bill Blair, an Ontario Member of Parliament and parliamentary secretary to the federal attorney general, is leading the charge to quietly legalize weed and not have the first day of legal pot coincide with Canada’s Independence Day.
“I’m probably out on a limb on this one but … I don’t believe July 1 should be an implementation date for anything; it is a day of celebration for the anniversary and founding of our country,” Blair told Canadian Press.
“I don’t think that’s an appropriate date. That’s my opinion.”
Trudeau is luring the provinces into his scheme by promising them huge tax revenues. He likes to cite the experience in Colorado, where marijuana was legalized in 2014 and is reportedly managing $1 billion in annual pot sales. It is not known if Trudeau is also telling the provinces that Colorado has also seen a spike in impaired driving charges over the last three years.
Details of the legislation could be known early in the week but three aspects of the bill have already been communicated. The federal government will be responsible for “safety” of the marijuana supply and will license producers. The provinces will decide how the cannabis is distributed, where it is sold and what the price will be.