Legal History of Cannabis in Canada

Legal History Of Cannabis In Canada

The legal status of cannabis in Canada is under dispute. Superior and appellate courts in Ontario have repeatedly declared Canada's cannabis laws to be of no force and/or effect. However, challenges to cannabis laws at the federal level have not resulted in the deletion of the appropriate articles from the Criminal Code of Canada and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Police and prosecution services in other Canadian jurisdictions still pursue criminal charges for cannabis possession.

The cultivation of cannabis is currently illegal in Canada, with exceptions only for medical usage.

Several polls since 2003 have found that a majority of Canadians agreed with the statement, "The use of marijuana should be legalized", including one in 2009 done by Angus Reid, with 53% for legalization. The latest being in 2012 by Forum Research Inc. which suggested "66% of Canadians are in favour of the legalization or decriminalization of marijuana, with just 20% supporting leaving the laws as they are now."

Read more about Legal History Of Cannabis In Canada:  Key Court Decisions, Positions of Canadian Political Parties

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