Ottawa, Canada: Newly elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is promising to amend Canada’s marijuana laws in a manner that regulates the plant’s adult use and sale. Trudeau, who was elected Tuesday on the Liberal Party ticket, says that addressing marijuana policy is among his immediate legislative priorities as Prime Minister.
The Liberal Party platform states: "Canada’s current system of marijuana prohibition does not work. … To ensure that we keep marijuana out of the hands of children, and the profits out of the hands of criminals, we will legalize, regulate, and restrict access to marijuana. We will remove marijuana consumption and incidental possession from the Criminal Code."
Liberal Party members now possess a majority of seats in Parliament.
NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said: "Trudeau’s election affirms that speaking out in favor of common sense marijuana law reform is a political opportunity, not a political liability. These results ought to embolden campaigning politicians in this country to take a more pronounced stance in favor of legalizing and regulating cannabis."
For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, at (202) 483-5500 or Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul@norml.org.