Canada: Liberals, New Democrats vote in favour of Marijuana Act in Ontario
Ottawa, Dec 13 (IBNS): The Liberals and the New Democrats have voted in favour of the Marijuana Act, to be effective from July 1, 2018, in Ontario, media reports said.
The Act has been passed by a voting margin of 63 to 27.
The Progressive Conservatives have opposed to the act.
Toronto Mayor John Tory said the city will funding in policing, social servicing and zoning environment.
"I will be looking to recover all of our costs once we calculate them" he was quoted by Toronto Star.
The House of Commons in Canada has already been cleared the marijuana bill, brought by the federal government, as the country is heading towards the legalisation of weed consumption by next year, media reports said.
The passage of the bill in the House enables the federal government to move an inch closer towards their aim to legalise marijuana from next summer.
The bill has been passed in the House by a voting margin of 183-99.
Some of the provinces even stated they are not yet ready to legalise marijuana.
Apart from legalising, the federal government has also decided to make an age of majority to use recreational marijuana and also to decide on the retail network of stores where the marijuana could be sold.
However, youth in possession of cannabis will not be criminalised from henceforth.
But any car driver or passenger will not be allowed to consume cannabis.
On the other hand, IBNS has received a mixed reaction towards the legalisation of the cannabis in Canada.
Police chiefs across the country are divided over the legalisation of the cannabis.
Some advocacy groups are even debating over the matter.
IBNS learnt that some of the advocacy groups even opine that the legalisation, perhaps, is too early for the country.
The federal government in Canada is set to launch an ad-campaign to create awareness over drug-impaired driving, with few months to go for the legalisation of recreational marijuana in the country, media reports said.
The government will launch the ads which will go on air via television, radio and also online. The ads will also be seen in the movie theatres.
The ads will be seen on billboards and other public spaces as well.
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale will unveil the series of advertisements on Tuesday.
Goodale said recently, as has been reported by CTV News, that the young generation, particularly between ages 16 and 24, believes driving after having cannabis is more socially acceptable than drive being drunk.
Image: Creative Commons
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