Canada is the second country to legalise cannabis

Canada is now the second country in the world, after Uruguay, to make the possession and recreational use of cannabis legal. The action fulfils the promise made by the prime minister, Justin Trudeau, during his 2015 campaign. When making the promise, Trudeau argued that the century-old law that made the non-medical possession and use of cannabis illegal had not been effective given that Canadians ranked among the heaviest users of the drug in the world.

The Canadian government introduced the new laws, which became effective at midnight (02:30 GMT) on 17 October, to reduce the impact of cannabis laws on the country’s justice system. The medical use of cannabis has been legal in Canada since 2001. Officials also plan to grant pardons to all Canadian citizens previously convicted of the charge of simple possession of cannabis.

It still is illegal for anyone to sell cannabis to another person without a licence, which means that Canadians can only buy cannabis for personal use from a registered cannabis dispensary. But, people can share cannabis with their friends.

It is unclear how health and law enforcement officials will handle the expected increase in cannabis consumption, especially when people drive while under the influence of the substance, which will remain illegal in Canada. Anyone who tests positive for THC levels of more than five nanograms per millilitre of blood will be subject to fines of up to £585 for their first offence, and up to 120 days imprisonment for repeat offences.