Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is pressing ahead with a goal of legalizing recreational marijuana in Canada within months, as senators push for changes and a delay of as much as a year.
The government’s pot law is working its way through the Senate, where a trio of lawmaker reports has this week called for changes or a delay. While the government didn’t welcome or rule out an extension, there’s little sign it will pump the brakes. Trudeau says the push will continue as scheduled, and a spokesman said the health minister looks forward to a final Senate vote on June 7.
“We are going to bring in legalization as we’ve committed to this summer, on schedule,” Trudeau said Thursday in Ottawa, in comments echoing, but more specific than, those made a day earlier. “Make no mistake – this is a public health and public safety issue that we committed to in the election campaign.”
The comments come as Canada’s Senate – which has become more unpredictable, but is the less-influential of the two federal chambers – reviews the law ahead of a vote expected next month, that would tee up the legal market’s opening for late summer or early fall. The senator sponsoring the bill said there’s room for the government to address some of the concerns without delaying it.
“If it needs more time, it will get more time. Do I think it needs more time? No, I don’t,” Sen. Tony Dean said.
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