Cannabis Act

The Liberal Party proposed legalization in 2012,[9] and it was a major campaign platform for Justin Trudeau who became Prime Minister in 2015.

[15] Canadian policy makers considered regulations and laws around legalized cannabis in Colorado, Washington and Uruguay as a model.

[16] On April 13, 2017, Bill C-45, with the short title Cannabis Act, was introduced to Parliament, sponsored by Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.

[21] Promotion and packaging: Companies are allowed to brand their products, but they must avoid anything that would appear to appeal directly to youth such as cartoon characters, animals, or celebrity endorsements.

[25] A satirical reaction in The Beaverton, an online Canadian publication, said that legalization would make cannabis "shittier and harder to get" in a country where it is already plentiful.

[26] Canoe.com editorialized that the bill was rushed and failed to address concerns of the black market and did not set limits for legal impairment for motor vehicle operators.

The Bloc Québécois candidate Marc Maltais expressed concerns over the bill's ability to respect provincial jurisdiction.

The amendment, which passed 34–28,[29] outlaws the sale and display of cannabis-related merchandise and makes it difficult to publicly promote cannabis once legalized.

[29][30] However, this amendment was rejected by the Liberal government when the bill was returned to the House of Commons and does not appear in the final version of C-45 that received Royal Assent.

Adults are also allowed to make cannabis-infused food and drinks "as long as organic solvents are not used to create concentrated products."

[c] In April 2023, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in Murray‑Hall v Quebec (Attorney General) that such measures were a valid exercise of provincial jurisdiction.