{"id":5950,"date":"2017-12-27T01:09:18","date_gmt":"2017-12-27T06:09:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lcpllutzlivetotell.org\/?p=5950"},"modified":"2019-08-08T12:51:06","modified_gmt":"2019-08-08T16:51:06","slug":"pot-policies-everything-need-know-marijuana-legalization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lutzlivetotell.org\/?p=5950","title":{"rendered":"Pot policies: everything you need to know about marijuana legalization"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3>Pot policies: everything you need to know about marijuana legalization<\/h3>\n<div class=\"s-data\">\n<div class=\"prof bioTeaser clearfix \">\n<p><a class=\"bioLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/more\/ctvnews-ca-team\/daniel-otis-1.2945642\">Daniel Otis<\/a>,\u00a0<span class=\"bioTitle\">CTVNews.ca Writer<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"socialBio\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dsotis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@dsotis<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"date\">Published Tuesday, December 26, 2017 6:00AM EST\u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"date\">Last Updated Tuesday, December 26, 2017 8:38AM EST<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/webapps.9c9media.com\/vidi-player\/1.4.0\/share\/iframe.html?currentId=1291572&amp;config=ctvnews\/share.json&amp;kruxId=ImoeZsch&amp;cid=%5B%7B%22contentId%22%3A1291572%2C%22ad%22%3A%7B%22adsite%22%3A%22ctv.ctvnews%22%2C%22adzone%22%3A%22embed%22%7D%7D%5D\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"articleBody\">\n<p>Cannabis curious? Jonesing for your first legal joint? Either way, get ready to roll: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/canada\/trudeau-says-cannabis-will-become-legal-next-summer-not-july-1-1.3728628\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">marijuana will be legal by next summer<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.parl.ca\/DocumentViewer\/en\/42-1\/bill\/C-45\/third-reading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bill C-45<\/a>, which will legalize cannabis across the country, largely leaves it up to the provinces and territories to determine how marijuana can be sold and used. Below, we take a look at the current state of these pot policies.<\/p>\n<p>Some things to consider:<\/p>\n<div class=\"articleBody\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/page\/cannabis-legalization\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ontario is the only province that has passed its marijuana law<\/a>. Other provinces and territories are in various stages of completing theirs, so much of the below information is subject to change. Saskatchewan and Nunavut have been excluded from our reefer roundup as both have yet to unveil even partial pot plans.<\/li>\n<li>In every province and territory, the federally-mandated public possession limit of 30 grams of dried cannabis has been maintained, though some provinces, like Quebec and Alberta, will permit you to keep more at home.<\/li>\n<li>With the exception of Manitoba, all jurisdictions have opted to keep their legal dope-smoking ages in line with those for drinking alcohol.<\/li>\n<li>Bill C-45 allows individuals to grow up to four marijuana plants per residence, though some provinces, like Manitoba and Quebec, plan to ban home cultivation.<\/li>\n<li>Provincial and territorial plans vary widely on whether you\u2019ll be able to smoke in public.<\/li>\n<li>Provinces and territories also differ on whether pot shops will be publicly or privately owned. For those opting for publicly-owned stores, these will be operated by provincial Crown corporations that sell liquor. In some cases, provinces have even created subsidiaries of these companies with names like CannabisNB and the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation. Unless otherwise noted, these will be standalone stores wholly separate from those that sell alcohol.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>After our jurisdictional breakdown, keep reading. We\u2019ll also attempt to peer through the haze at the biggest issues still facing marijuana legalization: namely, testing drivers for impairment, weed in the workplace, smoking in rental properties and the availability of edible products.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/polopoly_fs\/1.3733797!\/httpImage\/image.jpg_gen\/derivatives\/landscape_620\/image.jpg\" alt=\"marijuana\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"caption\">Growing flowers of cannabis intended for the medical marijuana market are shown at OrganiGram in Moncton, N.B., on April 14, 2016. (Ron Ward\/THE CANADIAN PRESS)<\/p>\n<p><strong>ALBERTA<br \/>\nAge:<\/strong>\u00a018+<br \/>\n<strong>Where to buy:<\/strong>\u00a0Privately-run storefronts plus government-operated online sales.<br \/>\n<strong>Grow your own?:<\/strong>\u00a0Up to four plants. Outdoor growing will be banned.<br \/>\n<strong>Where to smoke?:<\/strong>\u00a0Only where tobacco may be smoked.<br \/>\n<strong>Other notes:<\/strong>\u00a0No possession limits in private residences.<\/p>\n<p><strong>BRITISH COLUMBIA<br \/>\nAge:\u00a0<\/strong>19+<br \/>\n<strong>Where to buy:\u00a0<\/strong>Both government and privately-run storefronts and online sales.<br \/>\n<strong>Grow your own?:<\/strong>\u00a0To be determined.<br \/>\n<strong>Where to smoke?:\u00a0<\/strong>Only where tobacco may be smoked.<br \/>\n<strong>Other notes:<\/strong>\u00a0More details are expected in early 2018.<\/p>\n<p><strong>MANITOBA<br \/>\nAge:<\/strong>\u00a019+<br \/>\n<strong>Where to buy:<\/strong>\u00a0Privately-run storefronts and online sales.<br \/>\n<strong>Grow your own?:\u00a0<\/strong>Not permitted.<br \/>\n<strong>Where to smoke?:\u00a0<\/strong>To be determined.<br \/>\n<strong>Other notes:\u00a0<\/strong>Legal age is one year above the legal drinking age. Municipalities will be able to hold referendums to ban retail stores.<\/p>\n<p><strong>NEW BRUNSWICK<br \/>\nAge:<\/strong>\u00a019+<br \/>\n<strong>Where to buy:<\/strong>\u00a0Government-operated storefronts and online sales.<br \/>\n<strong>Grow your own?:\u00a0<\/strong>Up to four plants.<br \/>\n<strong>Where to smoke?:<\/strong>\u00a0Only on private property and in private residences.<br \/>\n<strong>Other notes:<\/strong>\u00a020 cannabis stores will be open in July. No possession limits in private residences. All cannabis must be securely locked up at home.<\/p>\n<p><strong>NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR<br \/>\nAge:<\/strong>\u00a019+<br \/>\n<strong>Where to buy:<\/strong>\u00a0Privately-run storefronts plus government-operated online sales.<br \/>\n<strong>Grow your own?:\u00a0<\/strong>To be determined.<br \/>\n<strong>Where to smoke?:\u00a0<\/strong>Only on private property and in private residences.<br \/>\n<strong>Other notes:\u00a0<\/strong>Government-run liquor stores will sell cannabis in some smaller municipalities. Private online sales may be permitted in the future.<\/p>\n<p><strong>NORTHWEST TERRITORIES<br \/>\nAge:\u00a0<\/strong>19+<br \/>\n<strong>Where to buy:\u00a0<\/strong>Privately-run liquor stores and government-operated online sales<br \/>\n<strong>Grow your own?:\u00a0<\/strong>Up to four plants.<br \/>\n<strong>Where to smoke?:\u00a0<\/strong>On private property and in private residences. Smoking will also be allowed on trails, highways, streets, roads and in parks when they are not in use for public events.<br \/>\n<strong>Other notes:<\/strong>\u00a0Cannabis will initially be sold through liquor stores. Individual communities will be able to enact cannabis restrictions and\/or prohibitions. Landlords will also be able to declare their properties smoke-free.<\/p>\n<p><strong>NOVA SCOTIA<br \/>\nAge:<\/strong>\u00a019+<br \/>\n<strong>Where to buy:<\/strong>\u00a0Government-operated storefronts and online sales.<br \/>\n<strong>Grow your own?:\u00a0<\/strong>Up to four plants.<br \/>\n<strong>Where to smoke?:\u00a0<\/strong>To be determined.<br \/>\n<strong>Other notes:<\/strong>\u00a0Cannabis will be sold alongside alcohol in provincial liquor stores.<\/p>\n<p><strong>ONTARIO<br \/>\nAge:\u00a0<\/strong>19+<br \/>\n<strong>Where to buy:<\/strong>\u00a0Government-operated storefronts and online sales.<br \/>\n<strong>Grow your own?:\u00a0<\/strong>Up to four plants.<br \/>\n<strong>Where to smoke?:<\/strong>\u00a0Only on private property and in private residences.<br \/>\n<strong>Other notes:\u00a0<\/strong>40 cannabis stores will be open in July. 150 will be in operation by 2020.<\/p>\n<p><strong>PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND<br \/>\nAge: 19+<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Where to buy:<\/strong>\u00a0Government-operated storefronts and online sales.<br \/>\n<strong>Grow your own?:<\/strong>\u00a0To be determined.<br \/>\n<strong>Where to smoke?:<\/strong>\u00a0Only on private property and in private residences.<br \/>\n<strong>Other notes:<\/strong>\u00a0More details are expected in early 2018.<\/p>\n<p><strong>QUEBEC<br \/>\nAge:<\/strong>\u00a018+<br \/>\n<strong>Where to buy:\u00a0<\/strong>Government-operated storefronts and online sales.<br \/>\n<strong>Grow your own?:\u00a0<\/strong>Not permitted.<br \/>\n<strong>Where to smoke?:\u00a0<\/strong>Only where tobacco may be smoked, with the exception of university and CEGEP campuses.<br \/>\n<strong>Other notes:\u00a0<\/strong>15 cannabis stores will be open in July. 150 will be in operation by 2020. Users will be able to keep up to 150 grams at home.<\/p>\n<p><strong>YUKON<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Age:<\/strong>\u00a019+<br \/>\n<strong>Where to buy:\u00a0<\/strong>Government-operated storefronts and online sales.<br \/>\n<strong>Grow your own?:\u00a0<\/strong>Up to four plants.<br \/>\n<strong>Where to smoke?:\u00a0<\/strong>Only on private property and in private residences.<br \/>\n<strong>Other notes:\u00a0<\/strong>At least one cannabis store to be opened in Whitehorse in July. Private retailers may be allowed in the future. Landlords will be able to ban marijuana use.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/polopoly_fs\/1.3733795!\/httpImage\/image.jpg_gen\/derivatives\/landscape_620\/image.jpg\" alt=\"Cannabis Culture\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"caption\">A young man smokes a joint as police officers stand outside the Cannabis Culture shop during a police raid, in Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday March 9, 2017. (Darryl Dyck\/THE CANADIAN PRESS)<\/p>\n<p>Other issues to consider:<\/p>\n<p><strong>IMPAIRED DRIVING<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>There is currently\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/canada\/cannabis-laws-a-boon-for-lawyers-likely-to-further-clog-justice-system-1.3698065\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">no government-approved roadside testing technology for marijuana<\/a>impairment.<\/li>\n<li>According to a recent Health Canada survey, there is also currently\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/health\/more-than-one-third-who-consumed-pot-drove-within-two-hours-health-canada-survey-1.3728161\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">no consensus on how long it takes to be able to drive safely after consuming cannabis<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Experts say roadside urine and blood tests are not useful ways to test drivers for impairment because\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3570572\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">regular marijuana users can yield positive results days &#8212; or even weeks &#8212; after use<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Currently,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.rcmp.gc.ca\/en\/gazette\/identifying-impairment?gz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">specially-trained police \u201cDrug Recognition Experts\u201d\u00a0<\/a>(DREs) use a 12-step system to detect drug impairment in drivers, including examining one\u2019s eyes, attention, blood pressure and pulse.<\/li>\n<li>While the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/canada\/police-opinion-deemed-expert-evidence-in-drug-impairment-trials-scc-rules-1.3297748\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that DREs can be used for expert evidence in trials<\/a>, critics have decried the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ccla.org\/drug-recognition-experts-opinions-shouldnt-taken-incontrovertible-evidence\/\">subjective nature of their evaluations<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>The RCMP, in conjunction with other Canadian police departments and Public Safety Canada, has recently experimented with\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.rcmp.gc.ca\/en\/gazette\/finding-a-roadside-drug-test?gz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">roadside saliva tests<\/a>. While these have proven to successfully\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/canada\/roadside-drug-testing-devices-worked-well-in-pilot-project-public-safety-says-1.3446513\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">test for the presence of marijuana in a driver\u2019s system<\/a>\u00a0within\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/datac.ca\/testing-marijuana-canada-legalization\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">several hours of use<\/a>, they cannot quantify a driver\u2019s level of impairment the way roadside alcohol tests do. It is thus feasible for a driver to fail a roadside saliva test despite not being impaired. A recent University of Calgary study, moreover, shows that it\u2019s also\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/cmajopen.ca\/content\/5\/4\/E814.full\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">possible to fail a roadside saliva test after inhaling second-hand marijuana smoke<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Regarding drug-impaired driving, some provinces are opting to err on the side of caution.\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/canada\/quebec-felt-intense-public-pressure-to-table-strict-cannabis-law-stakeholders-1.3680427\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Quebec, for example, has proposed a zero-tolerance policy<\/a>\u00a0that allows police to arrest anyone who fails a roadside saliva test and immediately suspend their license for 90 days.\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/canada\/ontario-plans-stiff-new-laws-beefed-up-penalties-for-drug-impaired-drivers-1.3594351\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ontario will also be enforcing a similar zero-tolerance policy<\/a>\u00a0for commercial drivers and drivers 21 and under while simultaneously beefing up existing fines and penalties for non-novice drivers over the age of 21.<\/li>\n<li>Once cannabis becomes legal, police forces across the country will likely be utilizing roadside saliva tests before moving onto assessments by DREs to\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/health\/feds-say-police-cannabis-testing-ongoing-rules-on-edibles-in-place-in-one-year-1.3640877\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">determine if a driver is impaired<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>WEED AT WORK<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/business\/companies-fret-about-hazy-rules-around-pot-use-at-work-1.3721118\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Employers have expressed concern<\/a>\u00a0that marijuana legalization will lead to impairment, lower productivity, poor attendance and safety issues in the workplace.<\/li>\n<li>An even bigger grey area is whether employers will legally be able to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/business\/companies-fret-about-hazy-rules-around-pot-use-at-work-1.3721118\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">test, discipline or even fire workers<\/a>\u00a0for using a substance that is legal.<\/li>\n<li>Business groups are hoping that\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/business\/consider-workplace-safety-in-legalized-marijuana-rules-groups-urge-1.3663591\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">provincial legislation clarifies both employer and employee rights<\/a>\u00a0regarding marijuana.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>REEFER IN RENTALS<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It remains unclear if\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/canada\/what-are-tenants-rights-under-proposed-marijuana-laws-1.3559918\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">landlords will be able to prohibit tenants from smoking marijuana<\/a>\u00a0in rental properties.<\/li>\n<li>Landlords are also concerned about tenants growing marijuana, which could lead to increased electricity usage and the spread of damaging mould.<\/li>\n<li>Real estate lawyers are currently looking to tobacco-smoking rules for guidance. While landlords cannot retroactively prohibit smoking tobacco in rental units, they can include such restrictions in new leases. It is unclear if such existing restrictions will be applicable to marijuana once it becomes legal. Landlords are also currently able to take action on cigarette smoking if migrating smoke bothers others in a property. Court rulings regarding such cases, however, have been inconsistent.<\/li>\n<li>Saskatchewan, Yukon and the Northwest Territories have proposed laws that would allow landlords to ban using marijuana on their properties. Only time will tell if courts will offer landlords those same rights in other jurisdictions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>EDIBLE PRODUCTS<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Marijuana-infused edible products like packaged cookies and candies will not be available in the summer of 2018.<\/li>\n<li>For medicinal users, however,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/health-canada\/services\/drugs-health-products\/medical-use-marijuana\/licensed-producers\/consumer-information-cannabis-marihuana-marijuana.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Health Canada has emphatically recommended against smoking the plant<\/a>\u00a0due to the potential for respiratory issues.<\/li>\n<li>According to a September study,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/canada\/nearly-half-of-canadians-want-to-try-edible-marijuana-products-study-1.3605901\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">nearly half of Canadians want to try edible marijuana products<\/a>\u00a0after legalization goes into effect.<\/li>\n<li>While dried cannabis and cannabis oil &#8212; both of which will be sold in 2018 &#8212; can be used to make edible products at home, the federal government has said that\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/health\/feds-say-police-cannabis-testing-ongoing-rules-on-edibles-in-place-in-one-year-1.3640877\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">packaged edible products won\u2019t be commercially available until approximately one year after legalization goes into effect<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5951\" src=\"http:\/\/lcpllutzlivetotell.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_2036.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lutzlivetotell.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_2036.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lutzlivetotell.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_2036-150x85.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">A woman smokes a joint during the annual 420 marijuana rally on Parliament hill on Wednesday, April 20, 2016 in Ottawa. (Justin Tang\/THE CANADIAN PRESS)<\/p>\n<p>Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/politics\/pot-policies-everything-you-need-to-know-about-marijuana-legalization-1.3733749<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pot policies: everything you need to know about marijuana legalization Daniel Otis,\u00a0CTVNews.ca Writer @dsotis Published Tuesday, December 26, 2017 6:00AM EST\u00a0 Last Updated Tuesday, December 26, 2017 8:38AM EST Cannabis curious? Jonesing for your first legal joint? Either way, get ready to roll: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says\u00a0marijuana will be &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5955,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[617],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5950","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cannabis"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lutzlivetotell.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5950","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lutzlivetotell.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lutzlivetotell.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lutzlivetotell.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lutzlivetotell.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5950"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lutzlivetotell.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5950\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lutzlivetotell.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5955"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lutzlivetotell.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5950"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lutzlivetotell.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5950"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lutzlivetotell.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}