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Cannabis in Prince Edward Island

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Cannabis in Prince Edward Island became legal when the national Cannabis Act went into force on October 17, 2018.

Cannabis in Canada has been legal for medicinal purposes since 2001 under conditions outlined in the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations, later superseded by the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations,[1] issued by Health Canada and seed, grain, and fibre production was permitted under licence by Health Canada.[2]

The federal Cannabis Act, legalizing cannabis for recreational use, came into effect on October 17, 2018.[3][4] Each province and territory set its own laws for various aspects, such as the legal age, whether householders can grow cannabis and the method of retail sales.[5][6]

Legalization for recreational use

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Canada's federal legislation enabling the sale of cannabis fixes the legal possession limit for adults at 30 grams (1.1 oz) of dried cannabis, but permits the provinces to set the legal age for possession and regulations for distribution and retail sales of cannabis.[7] A public survey was held in August and September 2017, asking residents their opinions on legal age, commerce, etc. The survey received over 3,000 responses.[8]

In December 2017 the PEI government announced preliminary regulations for cannabis in the province, with plans and rules for recreational cannabis finalized by October 2018. The legal age for possession or use is 19 and there are many locations where cannabis consumption is prohibited, including in any vehicle or boat. Adults may also grow marijuana plants, up to four per household.[9] The Highway Traffic Act will be amended to include cannabis intoxication in a motor vehicle, similar to alcohol. Adults may possess up to 30 grams of cannabis away from home but there is no limit to the amount kept in the home, if it is secure from access by those under age 19. No other entity is licensed to retail recreational cannabis in the province, and cannabis for medical use is still sold only by licensed producers.[10]

The Prince Edward Island Cannabis Management Corporation (PEICMC, or PEI Cannabis) opened three retail outlets in Charlottetown, Summerside, and Montague on October 17, 2018,[11] with a fourth in O'Leary opened January 25, 2019 due to construction delays.[12][13] PEI Cannabis also operates an e-commerce site offering online sales with direct home delivery.[14]

In the first six weeks of legalization, Prince Edward Island topped per-capita spending on legal cannabis nationwide, with residents spending an average of $13.83 compared to the national average of $2.65. The province's finance department reported that sales up to the end of 2018 totaled CA$3,509,913.[15]

Cannabis suppliers

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As of 2017 only one company, Canada's Island Garden, was licensed to grow medical cannabis in Prince Edward Island.[9] The government announced in January 2018 that it had selected Canada's Island Garden to supply the province's cannabis outlets, along with Organigram in Moncton, New Brunswick and Canopy Growth Corporation in Smith's Falls, Ontario.[16] In September 2018 PEI Cannabis announced that eight more suppliers had signed agreements with the provincial retailer.[17]

Usage

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In 2013, 10.4 percent of residents reported that they consumed cannabis in the past twelve months, the second lowest in the country.[18] In 2017, Statistics Canada reported that the province had the sixth highest per capita usage in the country of 18.95 grams per person.[19][20]

Criticism

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The government's plan to operate only four retail outlets with only three suppliers was criticized by consumer groups, saying the plan would not provide enough access to legal marijuana to deter consumers from continuing to purchase from the black market.[21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations". laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  2. ^ "Industrial Hemp Regulation Program FAQ". Health Canada. November 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  3. ^ Scott, Monique (June 20, 2018). "Marijuana to be legal in Canada starting October 17, Trudeau confirms". Global News.
  4. ^ "The Cannabis Act: The Facts". Health Canada. Government of Canada. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  5. ^ "Marijuana is legal everywhere across Canada now". Inside Halton. Metroland News. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Cannabis is legal in Canada — here's what you need to know". CBC News. CBC. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  7. ^ Fraser, Sara (January 16, 2018). "Adults will be able to carry 30 grams of pot in public, province says". CBC Prince Edward Island. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  8. ^ MacKay, Cody (October 14, 2017). "Next phase in provincial pot legislation begins". CBC Prince Edward Island. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Questions linger after P.E.I. unveils plans for marijuana legalization". CBC Prince Edward Island. December 10, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  10. ^ "Cannabis rules: what to expect in P.E.I." The Guardian. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  11. ^ Yarr, Kevin (October 17, 2018). "Why the 1st man in line at Charlottetown's cannabis store couldn't buy anything". CBC News. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  12. ^ "O'Leary mayor disappointed cannabis store won't open on time". CBC News. October 5, 2018. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  13. ^ McCarthy, Eric (January 24, 2019). "With P.E.I. Cannabis store opening, O'Leary mayor looks forward to financial spin-offs". The Journal-Pioneer. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  14. ^ "Province sets next policy directions for cannabis legalization". Government of Prince Edward Island. January 16, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  15. ^ "P.E.I. tops list for average spent on legal cannabis purchases in Canada". The Journal-Pioneer. Canadian Press. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  16. ^ Rendell, Mark (January 19, 2018). "Most provinces yet to lock up marijuana supply as clock ticks toward legalization". Financial Post. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  17. ^ "P.E.I. to offer plenty of pot variety, province says". CBC News. September 11, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  18. ^ "B.C., Nova Scotia home to the most marijuana smokers: StatsCan". torontosun.com. Toronto Sun. September 18, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  19. ^ Quon, Alexander (April 30, 2018). "Nova Scotians smoke the most weed per capita in Canada: StatsCan". globalnews.ca. Global News. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  20. ^ "Provincial and Territorial Cannabis Economic Accounts, 2017". statcan.gc.ca. Statistics Canada. April 30, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  21. ^ McEachern, Terrence (January 22, 2018). "Consumer group pans P.E.I. pot plans, says four retail outlets, three suppliers not enough". The Guardian. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
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