Senate approves cannabis legalization bill with dozens of amendments
The bill must now go back to the House of Commons, where the government will decide whether to approve, reject or modify the changes
Thursday, June 7, 2018
The Senate has approved the Trudeau government’s landmark legislation to lift Canada’s 95-year-old prohibition on recreational cannabis – but with nearly four dozen amendments that the government may not entirely accept. Bill C-45 passed easily in the upper house by a vote of 56-30 with one abstention, over the objections of Conservative senators who remained resolutely opposed. “It’s a historic night for Canada in terms of progressive health policy and social policy,” said independent Sen. Tony Dean, the bill’s sponsor in the upper house. “We know that prohibition doesn’t work. I think this is a brave move on the part of the government, frankly, to take on a tough and controversial issue.” (See also: Canada closer to legalising marijuana after senate vote in favour)
