Pot Legal Oct 17 2018

Globe says Aphria, rivals hear pot legal on Oct. 17

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The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday, June 21, edition that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is delaying the legalizing of pot until Oct. 17 to give the provinces more time to prepare. The Globe's Laura Stone writes that Mr. Trudeau said provinces asked for more time to prepare their retail cannabis outlets, on-line mail-delivery systems and production regimes before marijuana can be legalized in Canada. 

Ottawa had initially aimed to open up the market for legal cannabis within 12 weeks of the adoption of Bill C-45, which the Senate passed on Tuesday, but the new target date gives the provinces and producers 17 weeks to get ready. 

The PM said: "This is something that we want to get right. It is our expectation that ... by giving the provinces more time to ensure that they are fully ready for the day of coming into force of this legislation, it will be a smooth success in all the ways that we can hope for." Mr. Trudeau also said it would be "illogical" to launch any process to pardon those with criminal records for possession of cannabis while the act remains a criminal offence.

 He said, "Once the law comes into force, we will start looking at the issue of pardons and criminal records."

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NP says Aurora, rival hear many pot questions remain

Thursday June 21 2018 - In the News

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The National Post reports in its Thursday, June 21, edition that after 95 years, Canada's prohibition on recreational cannabis will come to an end on Wednesday, Oct. 17. The Post's Brian Platt writes that how many storefront retailers will actually open for business that day is just one of the many questions that remain. 

Over the next four months it will be largely up to the provinces and territories to produce the answers. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the date in the House of Commons Wednesday, the day after the Cannabis Act passed its final vote in parliament. While the government had previously estimated eight to 12 weeks would be needed between passage of the bill and legalization, Mr. Trudeau said that timeline was too aggressive. 

"We heard from provinces and territories who told us they needed more time to transition to this new framework," he said. 

As well as the Cannabis Act, Parliament passed the accompanying impaired-driving bill, legislation against harassment in the workplace, the national security bill and omnibus transportation legislation that includes new consumer protections for air travellers. The government has now achieved about a third of its campaign commitments.

© 2018 Canjex Publishing Ltd.

NP says Aphria, rivals hear legal pot is a promise kept

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Thursday June 21 2018 - In the News

The National Post reports in its Thursday, June 21, edition that promise made, promise kept is not something this government has been able to say very often. The Post's John Ivison writes that the passage of the pot-legalization bill before the summer recess was crucial for Prime Miniser Justin Trudeau, who during his 959 days in power has garnered a reputation as a promise-breaker. After reneging on the pledge to usher in electoral reform and blowing through the commitment to rack up "modest" deficits, this was a big one -- and it needed to be fulfilled, if anyone was to going to believe anything the PM said in advance of the 2019 election. The summer hiatus provides a convenient demarcation between the first three years in power, which were all about trying to live up to the sprawling campaign platform, and the final one, which will look ahead to the coming vote. "It is our hope ... there will be a smooth operation of retail cannabis outlets operated by the provinces, with an on-line mail-delivery system operated by the provinces, that will ensure that this happens in an orderly fashion." There are an assortment of models in place as provinces prepare for the legal sale of cannabis.

© 2018 Canjex Publishing Ltd.