The history of marijuana in Canada begins in East and South Asia, where cannabis is said to have originated. Over time, cannabis then made its way to the Middle East and Africa. Finally, French explorer, Jacques Cartier, spotted hemp growing in the Canadian wild sometime between 1535 and 1541.
And due to the countless therapeutic and medicinal properties, cannabis has finally established itself in the legal realm of Canadian culture. Of course, the journey did not come without its bumps, but strong support and committed advocates have succeeded in bringing marijuana to the public’s eye.
Here’s a timeline for the history of cannabis legalization in Canada:
1801
The Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada passed out hemp seeds for Canadians to cultivate to stimulate economic growth.
1923
In a crack-down attempt, marijuana was made illegal with the Narcotics Drug Act Amendment.
1969
Government research probed the non-medicinal use of cannabis.
2001
The first bill allowing marijuana to be grown for medical uses was enacted, the Marijuana for Medical Access Regulations (MMAR).
2013
The Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR) was passed to control the commercial distribution of marijuana for medical purposes.
2016
The Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations or the ACMPR effectively replaced the former MMPR.
2018
Through the passage of the Cannabis Act, marijuana is now legal for both medical AND RECREATIONAL purposes.
Although cannabis is now legal in Canada for recreational and medical use, it remains closely regulated by the government for quality control. What’s more, there are also postal regulations for mailing cannabis products. The rules and regulations differ among the provinces and territories as each is allowed to set its own. As long as you follow the local laws and regulations and take cannabis responsibly, you should be fine!
In Conclusion On The History of Cannabis
Now that marijuana is legal in Canada, what are you waiting for? You can find an extensive list of excellent cannabis dispensaries featured on sites such as Cannabis Ontario. There are thousands of different cannabis strains to choose from, including all your favourite Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid strains. You will also find a collection of the best online dispensaries in Canada and weed delivery services in Ontario. Or you can skip all that and visit Just Cannabis and get the best deals out there!
Interesting Reads
How to Make Hash, Fall Cannabis Guide, Ways You Can Benefit From Taking Cannabis
References
- Schwartz, D. (2014, May 3). Marijuana was criminalized in 1923, but why? CBC. Available at: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/marijuana-was-criminalized-in-1923-but-why-1.2630436
- Salter, L. (2006, Feb 7). Royal Commission on the Non-medical Use of Drugs. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Available at: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/royal-commission-on-the-non-medical-use-of-drugs
- Government of Canada. (2001, June 14). Marihuana Medical Access Regulations. Justice Laws Website. Available at: https://lois-laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-2001-227/page-1.html
- Cannabis Ontario. (2021, (October, 25). Find the best cannabis in Ontario. Available at: https://cannabisontario.net/
- Government of Canada. A FRAMEWORK FOR THE LEGALIZATION AND REGULATION OF CANNABIS IN CANADA. Available at: https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/hc-sc/healthy-canadians/migration/task-force-marijuana-groupe-etude/framework-cadre/alt/framework-cadre-eng.pdf
- Canada Post. 2021, October). Sending and Receiving Cannabis. Cannabis Post. Available at: https://www.canadapost.ca/cpc/en/personal/sending/parcels/restrictions/cannabis.page
- Government of Canada. Cannabis in the provinces and territories. Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/laws-regulations/provinces-territories.html