Canada to legalise cannabis from October 17: Justin Trudeau

Ottawa: Canada will become the first G7 country to legalise the consumption and cultivation of cannabis from October 17, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday.

Both houses of parliament voted this week to legalise the drug for recreational use, making Canada the second country worldwide to do so after Uruguay's move five years ago.

"We are committed to improving our system to better protect our youth and to take money away from organised crime," Trudeau told a question session at the House of Commons.

He justified the delay to implement the law by noting that provinces requested the extra time to organise sales in authorised stores."We are accepting the request of the provinces, and we will be legalising it as of



October 17, 2018," Trudeau said.

Cannabis has been banned since 1923 in Canada, which legalised its therapeutic uses in 2001.

Under the new legislation, adults -- either 18 or 19, depending on the province or territory -- can legally buy, grow and consume cannabis in limited amounts.

Each Canadian household will be allowed to grow up to four plants at home, and one person may carry up to 30 grams (one ounce) of the drug in public.

Just prior to the announcement, the country's leading cannabis producers reported a surge in stocks -- with market leader Canopy Grown jumping 1.7 per cent to Can USD 43.27 (USD 32.51) -- following the Senate vote to legalise the soft drug.