Marijuana has long been an unsettled issue, both in Canada and the United States. Now, the federal government has announced it will likely propose legislation in 2017 to decriminalise marijuana – something that could bring clarity to the law for everyone. Both the Health Minister and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have lent their support to the proposed legislation.
According to recent reports, there is no set date for the legislation, however, the Health Minister announced the likelihood of a decriminalisation law at a talk in front of the UN general assembly. Although there are currently no firm ideas of what the legislation would look like, the Health Minister said any law proposed will include provisions that keep children from accessing marijuana. The future law will also include language that stops individuals convicted of criminal offences from making a profit on sales of recreational marijuana.
Despite future legislation, and the Prime Minister’s pledge to regulate recreational marijuana during his campaign, law enforcement officials remind everyone that recreational marijuana is still illegal in Canada. In the same report from the Guardian, former Toronto police chief Bill Blair pointed out that medical marijuana and recreational marijuana are different and must be treated as such.
Ottawa, Ontario Criminal Defence
If you have been charged with possession of marijuana or another type of marijuana-related offence or drug offence, it is very important to work with an experienced criminal lawyer. The laws surrounding marijuana are still evolving, and are likely to remain unsettled for the foreseeable future. Don’t try to handle a drug offence case on your own. Your future is too important to leave to chance.
Criminal defence lawyer Bruce Engel has represented individuals and businesses charged with hundreds of different offences throughout Canada for more than two decades. From the start of a criminal investigation to the close of a trial, we will take a balanced and forceful approach to your defence. We have the experience and know-how to effectively navigate the constantly changing justice system in Canada.
