Marijuana could be legal in Canada by July 1, 2018

According to an exclusive report released by CBC News tonight, the Trudeau government is set to announce a timetable for full marijuana legalization next month.

And perhaps fittingly, the schedule calls for bud to be legal by Canada Day, July 1st, 2018.

CBC says “the legislation will be announced during the week of April 10 and will broadly follow the recommendation of a federally appointed task force that was chaired by former liberal Justice Minister Anne McLellan”.

Under the scheme, Ottawa will license producers, and it will be left to individual provinces to decide how it is distributed, sold, and even priced.  CBC says that Ottawa will set a minimum age for purchasers at 18, but the provinces will be free to set another benchmark if they choose.

Canadians will also be able to grow their own weed if they want, but will be limited to four plants per household.

The City of Victoria has begun a lengthy process to regulate the growing trade in the city, requiring high fees from applicants to go through a rezoning process for retail storefronts. It’s too early to know what impact this news will have on the City of Victoria process, or if the crop of over 30 suppliers in Victoria will be able to continue selling, once the province takes control of the trade.