Close X
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
ADVT 
National

Federal marijuana legislation approved by Commons, moves on to Senate

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Nov, 2017 10:30 AM
  • Federal marijuana legislation approved by Commons, moves on to Senate

The federal government's plan to legalize marijuana by next summer is a step closer.

Bill C-45 received final approval Monday in the House of Commons, passing by a vote of 200-82.

It now moves to the Senate, where Conservative senators are threatening to hold up passage of the bill.

That could yet derail the government's plan to have a legalized pot regime up and running by July.

Some provinces have complained they can't be ready to implement and enforce the legislation so quickly.

But a Conservative bid to force a delay in its implementation went down to defeat Monday, by a vote of 199-83.

Prior to the vote, Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould said Commons approval of Bill C-45 marks an "important milestone" in the government's plans to keep pot profits out of the hands of organized crime and marijuana out of the hands of kids.

She also said she looks forward to further debate in the Senate.

The federal NDP supports the government's legislation, which was amended to scrap a requirement that home-grown marijuana plants be less than 100 centimetres tall and to require that legislation for cannabis edibles and concentrates be brought forward within a year.

The Conservatives have been pushing for the Liberal government to reconsider its arbitrary timeline for implementing marijuana legalization, arguing it would be more responsible to consider a July 2019 deadline instead of July 2018.

MORE National ARTICLES

Police watchdog investigating officer-involved shooting in Vancouver

Police watchdog investigating officer-involved shooting in Vancouver
British Columbia's police watchdog is investigating after a man was shot and critically injured in Vancouver.

Police watchdog investigating officer-involved shooting in Vancouver

Conservative MP Dianne Watts announces bid for B.C. Liberal leadership

An MP for Surrey, B.C., says she will step down from her federal post and dedicate her full efforts to becoming the next leader of the B.C. Liberals.

Conservative MP Dianne Watts announces bid for B.C. Liberal leadership

Youth homelessness advocate completes cross-country walk pushing a shopping cart

Youth homelessness advocate completes cross-country walk pushing a shopping cart
A man who lived on the streets of Vancouver as a teenager will push a shopping cart through the city's rough-and-tumble Downtown Eastside once again on Friday, but this time will mark the end of a cross-country journey to raise awareness about youth homelessness.

Youth homelessness advocate completes cross-country walk pushing a shopping cart

U.S. court tosses appeal from B.C. woman falsely labelled a terrorist

U.S. court tosses appeal from B.C. woman falsely labelled a terrorist
A British Columbia woman has hit a dead end in her quest for compensation from the Canadian government, whom she accuses of falsely branding her a terrorist and an arms dealer to American authorities.

U.S. court tosses appeal from B.C. woman falsely labelled a terrorist

Pilot narrowly avoids crash with glider on Vancouver-to-Chicago flight

Pilot narrowly avoids crash with glider on Vancouver-to-Chicago flight
A passenger aboard a flight from Vancouver to Chicago says there were some tense moments as the pilot swerved to avoid crashing into a smaller aircraft.

Pilot narrowly avoids crash with glider on Vancouver-to-Chicago flight

Missing, murdered women inquiry hears stories of loss at first B.C. hearing

Missing, murdered women inquiry hears stories of loss at first B.C. hearing
Mary Jane Hill wasn't there to witness the birth of her grandchildren or to see them graduate from high school. She won't be there when her daughter needs her most, when she's in pain, or on her wedding day.

Missing, murdered women inquiry hears stories of loss at first B.C. hearing