The Canadian government legalized marijuana on 1 July, 2018, in a move that fulfilled a campaign promise made by prime minister Justin Trudeau. Mr Trudeau has often spoken out about the need to decriminalise and regulate recreational marijuana, arguing that it would help ensure that it is kept away from children and that profits don’t end up in the hands of “criminal elements”. Medical marijuana was already legal throughout the country, and this new law  make Canada the first major industrial nation to fully legalise marijuana use.

The new legislation cover the licensing of producers and procedures for ensuring the safety of the marijuana supply. Canadians who want to grow their own marijuana will be limited to four plants per household. It is up to Canada’s provincial governments to decide how the drug will be sold and at what price. While the federal government will stipulate that buyers must be at least 18 years old, provinces will be able to set a higher age limit if they wish. Analysts have estimated that the country’s legal cannabis industry will eventually be worth about five billion euros annually.

A group of the country’s provincial justice ministers have expressed concerns about the legalisation. “We support medicinal use of marijuana, but we also know that there are going to be some significant issues that arise as a result of recreational legalisation, including impaired driving and workplace safety.” These are valid concerns, but the same controls that are used for alcohol consumption will work even more effectively for marijuana use.