Many Canadians celebrated yesterday as marijuana was sold legally in their country for the first time.
Adults are now allowed to carry and share up to 30 grams of legal marijuana in public, according to a bill that passed the Senate in June. They will also be allowed to cultivate up to four plants in their households and make products for personal use.
Canada is the second country in the world and the first G7 nation to implement legislation permitting a nationwide marijuana market.
The Cannabis Act stems from a campaign pledge of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to keep marijuana away from underage users and curb marijuana-related crime.
Canada is only the second nation after Uruguay to legalize the drug, although countries such as Portugal have decriminalized it meaning those caught with the drug face civil punishment, such as a fine.
Mr. Trudeau has previously admitted to smoking pot five or six times in his life, including at a dinner party with friends after being elected to parliament.
He has also said that his late brother Michel was facing marijuana possession charges for a “tiny amount” of the pot before his death in an avalanche in 1998 and that this influenced his decision to propose legalizing cannabis.