2017
Legalizing Cannabis: A Joint Effort
With the introduction of the Cannabis Act, the Federal government is proposing the legalization of the recreational use of cannabis. Local governments must now consider the implementation of a local cannabis regulatory regime in the context of this new federal approach to recreational cannabis, as well as a retail and distribution framework to be determined by the provincial government.
This paper summarizes the proposed Cannabis Act, and outlines which level of government will be responsible for what under the new regime. It then discusses the status of the provincial cannabis framework, and highlights how other provinces have responded to the proposed legislation to date. Finally, the jurisdiction of local governments in determining an appropriate regulatory framework is considered, and information on what considerations a local government must take into account under a new cannabis regime is presented.