Senate passes pot bill, paving way for legal cannabis in 8 to 12 weeks
Federal government's bill legalizing recreational cannabis passes 52-29
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Senators have voted to pass the federal government's bill legalizing recreational marijuana by a vote of 52-29, with two abstentions, paving the way for a fully legal cannabis market. "We've just witnessed a historic vote for Canada. The end of 90 years of prohibition," said Sen. Tony Dean, who sponsored the bill in the Senate. "Transformative social policy, I think. A brave move on the part of the government." Initially, the government had planned for the bill to be passed by both houses of Parliament in time for retail sales to begin by July 1. Now that the bill has passed, it's up to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet to choose the actual date when the legalization of recreational marijuana becomes law of the land. (See also: Trudeau says pot will be legal as of Oct. 17, 2018)
