Canadian Lawmakers Debate Delaying Legal Weed Until 2019
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The former chair of Canada’s federal task force on cannabis legalization is calling on senators to avoid “undue partisan activity” as the bill faces the potential of a delay over contentious amendments that are under consideration.
The Senate has every right to consider the Cannabis Act rigorously, Anne McLellan told Marijuana Business Daily.
“But I’m hoping that partisanship does not unduly delay the passage of Bill C-45, because there is much anticipation across the country around cannabis becoming a legal substance.”
McLellan, also a former deputy prime minister, is scheduled to address senators this month about the cannabis legislation.
So far, two Senate committees have asked for significant changes to the bill before it becomes law, which could delay implementation and have a major impact on businesses preparing for the recreational market.
Another committee will decide whether to adopt the recommendations as amendments before the Senate votes on the legislation on June 7.
Summer session?
Sen. Tony Dean, the point person on cannabis legalization in Canada’s Senate, said he has “no doubt” the chamber will work through the summer if the legislation isn’t concluded by then.
“Sometimes the threat of that happening is enough to move things along more sharply,” Dean told Marijuana Business Daily.
As the Senate inches closer to its early June vote on the cannabis legislation, amendments to the bill appear to be more likely.
If the Senate approves an amended version, the law would be kicked back to the House of Commons, where elected members could either approve the bill with the changes or update it themselves. The latter outcome could require the Senate to take another look – potentially causing further delay.
Peter Harder, the government’s representative in the Senate, could then decide whether the chamber works into the summer.
A spokesperson from his office said it’s “too soon to say what might happen” after the vote.
All eyes on amendments
Dean told MJBizDaily that an amendment involving homegrown recreational marijuana is possible.
Quebec and Manitoba are banning home cultivation of recreational marijuana, in contrast to the proposed federal rules that allow provinces to set a limit of one to four plants per household.
“If they as provinces make that decision (to ban homegrown cannabis), then they should probably be allowed to do that. That amendment will get a fair amount of support,” Dean said.
Dean sees other recommendations proposed by Senate committees as much less likely to be advanced as amendments.
Half the members on the Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs want to limit the THC content of marijuana and cannabis-related products to 16% for consumers older than 21 and 8% for those ages 18-21.
But Dean said “it’s not for senators to second-guess the government and regulators on THC limits.”
Senators in two committees have recommended the bill be delayed.
McLellan, for her part, doesn’t anticipate the Senate stalling the bill.
“If you start pushing this into the late fall, early winter, then I think it is a problem,” she said, “but I don’t anticipate that happening.
“I anticipate this legislation being proclaimed sometime in June or early July.”
Delay would be ‘problematic’
Allan Rewak, the new executive director of the Cannabis Canada Council, believes any delay would be “problematic.”
“At this point many of our members are building our supply chain,” Rewak said. “This results in real dollar decisions being made and people being offered jobs …
“We believe a delay beyond the delay we already see, which is going to put us into late August or mid-September, would be problematic.”
The Cannabis Canada Council counts close to 60 of Canada’s 102 licensed producers as members, including heavyweights Canopy Growth and Aurora Cannabis.
“We’re on the edge of something that is remarkable for Canada and Canadians,” Rewak said. “We’re building a globally dominant industry. It’s time to get to the job.”
The Senate has every right to consider the Cannabis Act rigorously, Anne McLellan told Marijuana Business Daily.
“But I’m hoping that partisanship does not unduly delay the passage of Bill C-45, because there is much anticipation across the country around cannabis becoming a legal substance.”
McLellan, also a former deputy prime minister, is scheduled to address senators this month about the cannabis legislation.
So far, two Senate committees have asked for significant changes to the bill before it becomes law, which could delay implementation and have a major impact on businesses preparing for the recreational market.
Another committee will decide whether to adopt the recommendations as amendments before the Senate votes on the legislation on June 7.
Summer session?
Sen. Tony Dean, the point person on cannabis legalization in Canada’s Senate, said he has “no doubt” the chamber will work through the summer if the legislation isn’t concluded by then.
“Sometimes the threat of that happening is enough to move things along more sharply,” Dean told Marijuana Business Daily.
As the Senate inches closer to its early June vote on the cannabis legislation, amendments to the bill appear to be more likely.
If the Senate approves an amended version, the law would be kicked back to the House of Commons, where elected members could either approve the bill with the changes or update it themselves. The latter outcome could require the Senate to take another look – potentially causing further delay.
Peter Harder, the government’s representative in the Senate, could then decide whether the chamber works into the summer.
A spokesperson from his office said it’s “too soon to say what might happen” after the vote.
All eyes on amendments
Dean told MJBizDaily that an amendment involving homegrown recreational marijuana is possible.
Quebec and Manitoba are banning home cultivation of recreational marijuana, in contrast to the proposed federal rules that allow provinces to set a limit of one to four plants per household.
“If they as provinces make that decision (to ban homegrown cannabis), then they should probably be allowed to do that. That amendment will get a fair amount of support,” Dean said.
Dean sees other recommendations proposed by Senate committees as much less likely to be advanced as amendments.
Half the members on the Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs want to limit the THC content of marijuana and cannabis-related products to 16% for consumers older than 21 and 8% for those ages 18-21.
But Dean said “it’s not for senators to second-guess the government and regulators on THC limits.”
Senators in two committees have recommended the bill be delayed.
McLellan, for her part, doesn’t anticipate the Senate stalling the bill.
“If you start pushing this into the late fall, early winter, then I think it is a problem,” she said, “but I don’t anticipate that happening.
“I anticipate this legislation being proclaimed sometime in June or early July.”
Delay would be ‘problematic’
Allan Rewak, the new executive director of the Cannabis Canada Council, believes any delay would be “problematic.”
“At this point many of our members are building our supply chain,” Rewak said. “This results in real dollar decisions being made and people being offered jobs …
“We believe a delay beyond the delay we already see, which is going to put us into late August or mid-September, would be problematic.”
The Cannabis Canada Council counts close to 60 of Canada’s 102 licensed producers as members, including heavyweights Canopy Growth and Aurora Cannabis.
“We’re on the edge of something that is remarkable for Canada and Canadians,” Rewak said. “We’re building a globally dominant industry. It’s time to get to the job.”
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One comment on “McLellan calls on Canadian Senate to avoid ‘undue partisanship’ to get around rec cannabis delay”
One comment on “McLellan calls on Canadian Senate to avoid ‘undue partisanship’ to get around rec cannabis delay”
Clayton McCann on May 9th, 2018 - 6:24am
McLellan??? Who called pot smokers “stupid?” Who is getting rich working for a MJ LLP?? Who’s career has been an exemplar of “undue partisanship???”
C-45 and C-46 have serious Charter problems, something McLellan should be aware of, if she was ever serious in her role as Deputy Prime Minister. MJ, once “legal” will not be permitted to be consumed outdoors, not in public places, not in social contexts (e.g. restaurants, bars, etc.). Police, under C-45, will be mandated to violate the Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedoms (Canada’s Constitution), esp. our guaranteed freedom of movement, freedom against unlawful search & seizure, and reasonable expectation of privacy. Further, C-45 permits civil forfeiture without conviction! Think on that! A cop can suspect you are growing weed and seize your house!
C-45’s complementary transportation legislation, C-46, further permits pulling over vehicles without just cause, search and seizure.
As one commenter in a recent Globe & Mail piece noted, “all the MJ that is currently illegal in Canada will be even more illegal when recreational LP MJ is granted Royal Assent (e.g. the legalization for recreational bill is enacted into law)” meaning mandatory minimums are going up, Mom & Pop grow operations (the norm right now) will be aggressively sought after by law enforcement, and teens will be surveilled by CCTV cameras on high school buses so that Big Brother can “monitor compliance.”
Undue Partisanship, indeed! I suppose standing up for our Charter rights is now undue???
TheRealDman
Well-Known Member
They won’t be able to stop Rec homegrows! How many MMJ grows are out there now? Stop Rec grows and they’re saying....you have to be sick to grow MJ.” Yeah, that’s gonna float like a lead ballon with Joe Public who just wants to grow his own poison-free stash. So many easy court challenges are approaching the Gov won’t be able to keep up.
OLD MOTHER SATIVA
Well-Known Member
on ignore..why would i do that..?
u r my hero.and ."homie/broski from bc"
..so... do i read you right that its no pizza?
Somatek
Well-Known Member
The gov has been clear they want to allow home growing & that federal law allowing home growing would trump provincial law forbidding it. I'll have to read the senate meetings again but I seem to remember only the CREA complained about it, generally it was dismissed as most recognised 4 plants isn't a grow house.
I'll be surprised if it's delayed for long, if at all. The gov has too much tied up in it, too many LP's have huge amounts of money tied up in it & there's too much public support. The senate knows they're on shaky ground after all the scandals, delaying this too long would give trudeau the ammo he needs to make abolishing the senate part of the next election. Plus they have their cushy salaries to protect...
CalyxCrusher
Well-Known Member
Its not the government's problem if LPs are tied up. Sink or swim, thats the beauty of capitalism and the cost of doing business, its risky. The longer the delay the better. The liberals are hoping to force this through to save their sorry asses come election time.
Canadians support legalization but wont be upset if its delayed to get it right. And boy does it need a TON of ammending. Its a matter of too little too late for the Liberals. Maybe if they focused on doing things instead of identity politics theyd have something to stand on. As it stands, bring on the delays. Hope the LPs take a huge financial hit, serves em right.
and once again...its shit we all know..
and love to
because it WONT GO THEIR WAY
legal 2018? Not likely
VIANARCHRIS
Well-Known Member
WTF? Now I have to deal with a retarded twelve year old who admits to trolling me for his enjoyment. I guess it keeps him away from the little boys....
OLD MOTHER SATIVA
Well-Known Member
sigh..you are talking like a real bitter snowflake loser now vianna...
and save the filthy talk for the next person who triggers you..
...what you will resort to is disgusting...
and save the filthy talk for the next person who triggers you..
...what you will resort to is disgusting...
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Somatek
Well-Known Member
I agree that it should be delayed as it's poorly crafted & will create a whole bunch of constitutional challenges. I'll be surprised if it is because unfortunately money talks, the libs need to boost the economy & those tax dollars will go a long way to balancing the budget. I have more faith the gov will do what's best for them, not the country. With all the liberal insiders involved in LP's I'd guess there's a fair bit of sway to make sure they don't lose their shirts.
We'll find out soon enough I suppose
CalyxCrusher
Well-Known Member
They hold ZERO sway in how the federal government operates, considering the jam the number of times the Liberals shoot themselves in the foot the last thing they want is to be caught influencing a free market. Thatd be crony capitalism. Anyone who thinks otherwise with zero evidence is quite the conspiracy theorist......
They've over valued their companies, the quality and selection of their products and the size of the upcoming market, ill be looking forward to watching the LPs cut their own throats trying to compete with each other fighting for customers
They've over valued their companies, the quality and selection of their products and the size of the upcoming market, ill be looking forward to watching the LPs cut their own throats trying to compete with each other fighting for customers
VIANARCHRIS
Well-Known Member
Sounds like I touched a nerve....you are one sick puppy. Go find someone else to troll you old pathetic fool.
OldMedUser
Well-Known Member
What tax dollars? They are throwing so much money at law enforcement for made up problems and brainwashing the sheeple that any money they make from pot won't come close to covering the bill.
This whole re-legalization fiasco is all about keeping making their rich friends richer and screwing over the rest of us like usual.
Like usual the cops are happy as pigs in shit. For years they fought hard against legal pot as chasing harmless stoners was safe, got their arrest numbers up and meant they could always cry they needed more money to fight crime. What f'n crime?!
Laws are created to address harms being done to innocent victims. Who have I ever harmed by growing some plants in my basement yet I'm a criminal in their eyes. The criminals are sitting in ivory towers getting rich by thinking up new ways to fuck me over.
People that are going to get stoned and drive are already doing that and have for decades. Sure educate the few people that might be trying pot for the first time now that it might be legal to do so and not be aware how it will affect them. I'd wager that first time users won't make up 10% of the people that get pot from the legal stores.
Kids that want pot can get it easy and will still get it easy once it's legal so that's all smoke and mirrors too so Joe Anti-pot won't make such a fuss.
I will go without pot before I buy any of the new legal crap they sell. I haven't bought street weed in 30 years so why would I need their shitty offerings.
The whole thing is f'n ridiculous and I refuse to take part.
PS: Not ranting at you.
i should add that plus quotation marks... lol
Somatek
Well-Known Member
You don't think oil companies & pharmaceutical companies have influence on bills through their lobbies? I imagine the main driver is the amount the lins have invested in it. Especially after scraping election reform they need a win before the election.
I agree that a lot of LP's will go under for the reasons you listed. Although international exports could be a mitigating factor.
had this one out with another..
so ya think Poison Canadian Shwags has anything against say..Jamaican?
African?
Hawaiian?
Columbia?
Mexican?
The list is endless!
Hell as it stands right now today GW out of the UK sells the most shit internationally. what a joke they are...eh
Bunch of hypocrites non the less they be..
"sativoilcrap"... won't say the name..but
anyone can make their own meds for next to nothing in the back yard,
as good or better than what ya get in that spray,,,,
Limit the meds for the bucks ..
Somatek
Well-Known Member
When those countries can legally export, no I doubt ours will. At this point in time though Canada is the only country legally producing & exporting cannabis which gives us a market edge for a developing market. I'm sure that's a big part of the investment value for some, the fact these companies are developing techniques to grow on a scale we haven't done yet.
It's a valid point but unrelated to what I was talking about.
It's a valid point but unrelated to what I was talking about.
https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/6489/senators-push-for-plan-to-deal-with-fallout-when-canada-legalizes-cannabis-and-breaks-international-law
The UK sells more shit internationally
No!
The UK sells more shit internationally