Royal assent for legal marijuana in Canada has arrived. Circle October 17 on your calendars for the start of legal recreational marijuana. All of that is wonderful news, but what does that mean for Canadians and tourists once every day in Canada will be 420 Day.
Age
Every province and territory — except Manitoba — will have the same age for legal consumption of alcohol as for marijuana. Quebec and Alberta have 18 as the minimum age while the other provinces and territories have 19 as the minimum age. Manitoba has a 18-year-old drinking age but the age will be 19 for marijuana. This is a distinction for those 19- and 20-year-olds in Washington state who may be legal in British Columbia but not yet in Washington state.
The Trudeau Government emphasized the consequences of passing along marijuana to those under the legal age. The government is very serious about those penalties.
Amendments
The amendment that had the most publicity is that home cultivation of marijuana plants is limited to 4 plants. Quebec, Manitoba, and Nunavut want to forbid home cultivation. If Quebec is allowed to pass this exception, the prime minister would not be allowed to grow plants in his Montréal home (Trudeau’s riding is Papineau in Montréal), but Trudeau could grow them in his Ottawa home.
Other Senate amendments that didn’t make it through included a public registry of investors in cannabis companies as well as a ban of branded swag by pot companies.
Customs and border crossings
Crossing into Canada for the purpose of consuming marijuana may run you into trouble with Canadian authorities. Come to Canada for a variety of reasons: maple syrup, Tim Hortons, Go Leafs Go, etc. Have an expressed purpose for visiting Canada. Tell them you read CanadianCrossing.com and wanted to see how awesome Canada can be.
Canadians crossing into the United States and Americans crossing back from Canada have other issues. There is a strong likelihood that U.S. customs officers will be extra diligent especially in the beginning of legalization. Be smart when dealing with officers. Again, bring up the wonderful times you had on your visit to Canada.
Canadians entering the United States may experience extra scrutiny at border crossings. Yes, even more than usual, especially in the beginning of legalization.
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Medical marijuana
We haven’t heard much about those on medical marijuana and the impact of legalization on them. Ontario is talking about 40 outlets province-wide to sell legal marijuana. There might be at least 40 outlets in Toronto alone to get medical marijuana.
Cost and access are considerable factors for some medical marijuana patients. The U.S. states that went through this have had their own transitions. Things may go smoothly enough for most medical marijuana patients but they might have some extra anxiety, which might require more medical marijuana.
Price
We've been hearing that marijuana will be priced at about $10 per gram, except in the Yukon where that might fall to $8. The federal marijuana tax is $1/gram, or 10% of sales of more than $10. The federal government gets 25% while provinces and municipalities get the rest. This does not factor in HST.
Tourists
Do your homework on specific provinces as to their rules. The legislation is geared ideally toward home owners. Renters may not be able to light up in their apartments. Public consumption, especially through smoking, will also be an issue.
If you are coming to Canada and expecting edibles, you will have to wait a year after legalization. Bill C-45 built the 1-year ban on edibles to ensure the marketplace is ready and that edibles don’t fall into the hands of children.
The limit to carrying around marijuana is 30 grams. An ounce is 28 grams. Learn how much that means in terms of marijuana so that you can stay on the proper side of the law.
Governor General Julie Payette gives royal assent to several bills, including Bill C-45.
History
Canada did have Bill C-10 to deal with marijuana in 2004. That bill would have removed the threat of jail for those possessing fewer than 15 grams, but still would have a $100-$500 fine.
The Paul Martin Government let the bill die before the election campaign that eventually elected Stephen Harper. The Conservatives have been against legalizing marijuana and never brought up their own bill.
Be a smart consumer
The social experiment that is legalized marijuana in Canada will be under a world microscope. Chances are you didn't know that Uruguay was the other country to legalize recreational marijuana.
The ideal is that marijuana becomes more practical for those who need it and those who want it, while limiting the evils to the society at large. Marijuana use in reasonably limited forms will work out well for the majority of the population.
Some people can not handle marijuana at any age. As a society, Canada needs to help those who will have trouble ingesting marijuana. Indigenous populations are concerned about the current state of addiction among their people and worry that marijuana can make bad situations even worse.
All the rallies have delivered the result you want: legal recreational marijuana from sea to sea to sea.
With that power comes responsibility. We are not trying to harsh your buzz. All we are saying is be a smart, responsible marijuana consumer, if you choose to go that route. As for marijuana tourists, follow the laws of the province/territory and federal laws. Come to Canada to enjoy Canada.
The better that Canada takes to this new power will speak volumes for how cool Canada is and set an example for the world as other countries look into either decriminalization or legalization.
photo credit: @Cannabis Culture
video credit: Global News
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