In a landmark decision, Canada has legalized recreational marijuana becoming the second country to make the decision after Uruguay back in December 2013 and the first of the G7 nations.
The Cannabis Act passed with a vote of 52-29 on Tuesday with the bill gives the Canadian government control over the cultivation, distribution, and selling of cannabis. The government is giving each of the provinces around 8-12 weeks to prepare their respective territories for the marijuana marketplace as well as law enforcement for their preparation in revisions to the legal framework around marijuana.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to Twitter stating:
“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”
Cannabis is already big business in Canada with an estimated $4.5 billion spent on marijuana in 2015 almost outpacing the amount Canadians spent on wine.