Canadian CANNAINVESTOR Magazine November 2018 | Page 41

The Federal Cannabis Act (the “Act”) came into force on October 17, 2018 and officially marked the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada. While the Act dictates much of the scheme for legal cannabis across Canada, it left key aspects of regulation to the provinces and territories. One such aspect is the regulation of permitted/prohibited public areas for the consumption of cannabis.

In response to this position, Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government, elected on June 7, 2018, released a plan and accompanying legislation to change the previous Liberal government’s plan. On October 17, 2018, Ontario’s Bill 36: the Cannabis Statute Law Amendment Act, 2018 received Royal Assent and changed previously established regulations on the consumption of cannabis.

Bill 36 amended and renamed the former Cannabis Act, 2017 to the Cannabis Control Act, 2017, the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation Act, 2017, the Liquor Control Act, and created the new Cannabis Licence Act, 2018, which outlines licensing for private retail cannabis stores in Ontario.

On the same date, the new Smoke Free Ontario Act, 2017 (the “SFA, 2017”) was also proclaimed into force.

POWERFUL ROLE

Of MUNICIPALITIES

WHITNEY ABRAMS, MINDEN GROSS LLP

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NEW CANNABIS CONSUMPTION RULES

Rolling Out

in ONTARIO & The