Canada’s proposed Cannabis Act: A summary
Canadians have been anticipating the legalization of cannabis since it formed part of the Liberal Party of Canada platform in the 2015 federal election campaign. On Thursday, April 13, 2017, the Government of Canada made a significant step towards enacting the platform promise when it tabled draft legislation—the Cannabis Act (the “Act”). The Act overhauls Canadian criminal legislation pertaining to the sale of cannabis and sets out a legal framework for its production, distribution and possession. The Government has indicated that it intends for the Act to come into force before July 2018.