People in Canada are cheering, enduring long lines and honking their car horns in support as the country's first marijuana dispensaries open their doors Wednesday.
"I'm
having a plaque made with the date and time and everything. This is
never actually going to be smoked. I'm going to keep it forever," said
Ian Power, who was among the first to buy marijuana in St. John's, a
city in the country's easternmost province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Like Power, hundreds are now legally buying recreational marijuana all over Canada but not without adjusting to a few rules.
As marijuana enthusiasts continue celebrating this historic day for Canada, here's a quick primer to get you up to speed.
Who can buy marijuana in Canada?
Adults of at least 18 years old will be allowed to carry and share up to 30 grams of legal marijuana in public, according to a bill that passed the Senate in June.
They
will also be allowed to cultivate up to four plants in their households
and make products such as edibles for personal use.
Where can I buy it?
The supply of recreational marijuana could be limited, at least early on, in some stores.
Officials
in Nova Scotia and Manitoba said they won't have a large selection, at
least not on the first day, CNN affiliate CBC News reported.
"My
father is going to be my first customer, and my second customer is
going to be a lady who has [multiple sclerosis],' Thomas Clarke, who
owns Thomas H. Clarke's Distribution cannabis retail store in Portugal
Cove-St. Philip's, told CBC News.
Marijuana
will not be sold in the same location as alcohol or tobacco. Consumers
are expected to purchase the drug from retailers regulated by provinces
and territories or from federally licensed producers when those options
are not available.
Can I travel in and out of Canada with weed?
No.
Please,
save yourself a lot of trouble. Whether you are entering or leaving
Canada, it is illegal to have marijuana with you, and you could face criminal charges.
You
can't travel across international borders with it, even if it you are
going to Colorado or any of the other eight US states where it has been
legalized.
What about previous pot charges?
Authorities
will soon announce plans to pardon Canadians who have been convicted
with possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana, CNN partner CTV
reported.
The production, distribution or sale of cannabis products will still be an offense for minors.
Canada
was the second country in the world -- and the first G7 nation -- to
implement legislation permitting a nationwide marijuana market.
Why did they legalize it?
The
Canadian legislation, known as the Cannabis Act, stems from a campaign
pledge of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to keep marijuana away from
underage users and curb marijuana-related crime.
Some health care
professionals in Canada have said they are afraid of the consequences of
legalizing marijuana. Stringent rules will still govern the purchase
and use of marijuana.
Canada's
government also made changes to impaired driving laws to address
repercussions for driving under the influence of cannabis.
Legalizing cannabis is expected to create an industry worth more than $4 billion in Canada.
Where else is it legal?
Not
in many places. Canada is only the second country in the world -- and
the first G7 nation-- to allow a nationwide marijuana market. In
December 2013, Uruguay was the first country to legalize the production, sale and consumption of marijuana.
Nine
states in the United States and the District of Columbia now allow
recreational marijuana use. Medical marijuana is legal in some form in
30 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
The
pot industry took in nearly $9 billion in sales in 2017 in the United
States, according to BDS Analytics. The revenue from those sales is
equivalent to the entire snack bar industry.
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