Canada's Senate has given final passage to the federal government's bill to legalize recreational cannabis, though Canadians will have to wait at least a few months to legally buy marijuana.
It’s been too easy for our kids to get marijuana - and for criminals to reap the profits. Today, we change that. Our plan to legalize & regulate marijuana just passed the Senate. #PromiseKept
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) June 20, 2018
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government had hoped to make pot legal by July 1, but the government has said provincial and territorial governments will need eight to 12 weeks following Senate passage and royal assent to prepare for retail sales.
Trudeau's Cabinet is expected to decide a legalization date in early or mid-September.
The law makes Canada the second country to have a nationwide, legal marijuana market, after Uruguay.
Each province in Canada is coming up with rules for the sale of recreational pot.
Niagara Falls, Ontario, could be home to one of the first pot shops in the country.
The bill passed in the Senate by a vote of 52-29 on Tuesday.
Take WKBW Everywhere, on all your devices. Download below!
Phone or Tablet: Apple, Android
Set-top Device: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV
Amazon Alexa
Personalize your news, get the latest 7 First Alert Forecast, and watch 7 Eyewitness News video wherever, whenever.
Learn more here about what 7 Eyewitness News provides on all these devices.
