Recreational cannabis sales in Canada will not begin on July 1 as anticipated as federal lawmakers have come to an agreement that will see the legislation taken up on or before June 7, CBC News reports. Health Minister Ginette Petitpas-Taylor said that it would take eight to 12 weeks after the legislation is approved to get retail sales underway – moving the timeline to at least August.
“There’s no exact date but, if you do the math, you’ll see it won’t be July 2018. Cannabis legalization is not about a date, it’s about a process … We want this process done as seamlessly as possible.” Petitpas-Taylor, during a press conference, via the CBC
According to the report, the measure will be sent to five different Senate committees as Conservatives are concerned about how the legalization process is playing out. One unnamed Conservative source told the CBC “it’s not a matter of what’s being done. It’s a matter of how it’s being done,” adding that Conservatives have asked for a “thorough examination of the bill.”
Members of both parties are expecting amendments.
Which committees will review the measure?
The Senate Social Affairs Committee, the Aboriginal Peoples committee, the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, the National Security and Defense Committee, and the Foreign Affairs Committee will each review the measure. The Social Affairs Committee will inspect the legislative framework in its entirety.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that he was unsure where the July 1 legalization date originated.
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