On Thursday, June 21, Canada officially ended its 95-year prohibition on cannabis.
In passing Bill C-45, The Cannabis Act, and giving the bill Royal Assent, Canada became only the second nation in the World to legalize recreational cannabis.
However, as Canadians look ahead to lighting up legally, there is confusion over whether citizens can possess cannabis before the official legalization date of October 17.
The RCMP have stated that until that date, cannabis remains a controlled substance governed by the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), which prohibits the importation, exportation, trafficking, cultivation, production and possession of cannabis and its derivatives.
Come legalization, those of legal age will be allowed to possess up to 30 grams of dried legal cannabis, or its equivalent in public and share the same amount with other adults.
There is also an air of confusion about where to legally purchase cannabis, many communities have seen local dispensaries shut down, while others remain open.
According to RCMP, all unlicensed cannabis distributors remain illegal and contravene the CDSA, which applies equally to all Canadians. For a detailed understanding on how to legally obtain cannabis, click here.
After legalization, where you actually can purchase and smoke cannabis legally will vary from depending on the province or territory. Some Western provinces have indicated that restrictions will follow similar rules to alcohol, while others have established complete bans on smoking cannabis in public.
Canada also passed new impaired driving laws on Friday, for more information on that, click here.
