Canada legalised cannabis last week and has become just the second country in the world to do so, according to BBC News.
The largest country in the world to legalise cannabis, Canada recently legalised the drug for over 19s for recreational use.
While medical marijuana use has been legal in Canada since 2001, the recreational use of cannabis has only now been legalised there, after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party of Canada spent two years working on the legalisation, which BBC News says was an effort to “Bring black market operators into a regulated system.”
Uruguay became the first country to legalise cannabis in 2013, so Canada’s legalisation makes them the second country, and the largest in the world, to legalise the drug.
Under new legislation, adults can possess a maximum of 30 grams of dried cannabis and will also be permitted to grow up to four cannabis plants per residence.
Cannabis will be permitted in places where tobacco is permitted, such as private homes and public spaces, but will be prohibited from indoor common areas, such as university residences, enclosed public spaces and schools and places where children gather.
Adult age in most of Canada is 19 years old, so individuals must be 19 or older to buy, use, possess or grow recreational cannabis, according to Blackburn news.
Driving while under the influence of cannabis is prohibited, and if caught by a police officer, a driver impaired by cannabis could face fines, license suspension and possible jail time.
With the recent legalisation of cannabis in Canada, drug use – and misuse – has been the topic of conversation around the world.
The people of Cardiff shared their opinions:
Canada recently became the second country, and the largest in the world, to legalise cannabis, what do you think about this?
Elizabeth Thomas, 48
case manager at BT, Port Talbot
“Everybody does it, why not raise taxes off it?”
Bobby Basingdon, 36
civil engineer, West Wales
“It’s fine. I think it should be legal,
it’s got medical benefits so why not?”
Jasmine Croker, 18 (l) and Celena Yang, 19 (r)
unemployed, Australia
“We’ve just come from Amsterdam!
I don’t see a problem with it, it doesn’t cause problems like violence, like other drugs do.”
John Jones, 29, magician, Llanelli
“By making something like that legal, it is easier to control as a substance and gives people more respect for it, so they’re less inclined to do it.
It’s like drink, teenagers often go behind their parents’ back; it’s better if a substance is legal as it can be controlled.
It also means it’s easier for parents to engage with children about it.”
Hannah Thompson, 25, waitress, Cardiff
“I am for the legalisation but I think there needs
to be rules for it, you need restrictions or else it will get out of hand.”
