Canadian lawmakers on Monday voted to legalize recreational marijuana nationwide.
The House of Commons voted 205-82 to accept some of the Senate’s proposed amendments on the bill, sending the bill back to the upper chamber for continued debate and a final decision.
The bill would lift a 95-year-old ban on recreational marijuana and sets the government up to regulate production, possession and sale of marijuana to Canadians over the age of 18.
The House of Commons turned down some of the Senate's proposed amendments, including a ban on pot producers selling branded merchandise and giving provinces the power to ban homegrown marijuana, according to CTV News.
The Senate could take its next step forward as early as Monday evening. Lawmakers have said they expect marijuana to be legal and available about September.
Regulated medical marijuana has been legal in the country since 2001.
In the U.S., medical marijuana is legal in more than two dozen states, and recreational marijuana is legal in nine states and Washington, D.C.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsLaura Bush blasts Trump migrant policy as 'cruel' and 'immoral' Merkley leads Dem lawmakers to border amid migrant policy outcry DHS secretary defends Trump administration's migrant policies MORE in January reversed the Obama-era Cole memo that allowed states to legalize recreational marijuana. Sessions has been a vocal opponent to legal marijuana.
Breaking with his own attorney general, President Trump Donald John TrumpEx-ethics chief calls on Trump to end 'monstrous' migrant policies Laura Bush blasts Trump migrant policy as 'cruel' and 'immoral' US denies report of coalition airstrike on Syria MORE said earlier this month that he would likely support a bipartisan bill that would allow states to regulate marijuana without federal interference.
ExquisiteFacade on June 18th, 2018 at 23:55 UTC »
Ricky and Julian will still find a way to end up in prison.
thelonelywolf96 on June 18th, 2018 at 22:11 UTC »
Important to note that it's NOT 100% official yet. We'll have to see if the Senate is happy with the changes in the bill or not. If not, then it goes back to parliament and we go through the process again. If so, then the Governor General has to give the bill royal assent, and we get Marijuana legalized.
Side note: Our Senate is useless. Why haven't we abolished it yet?
beanzamillion21 on June 18th, 2018 at 21:11 UTC »
Is this the final step? Seems like they have been voting on this for 2 years.