Trudeau says cannabis will become legal ‘next summer,’ not July 1

MONTREAL – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says ''next summer," and not July 1, is the date cannabis will become legal across the country.

Excerpts of an interview Trudeau gave the TVA network in Quebec were broadcast Tuesday, with the full interview to be shown Wednesday night.

Trudeau shook his head when interviewer Pierre Bruneau asked him why he was so obsessed with July 1 as the date for the cannabis legislation to become law.

The prime minister said it "would not be July 1," but that it would be "for next summer."

"The date will not be July 1, I can assure you of that," Trudeau said. "I don't know where that date came from."

Several provinces have asked the federal government to delay passing the legislation in order to give them more time to prepare.

A statement issued by the Health Department last month said, "as previously indicated, the government of Canada intends to bring the proposed Cannabis Act into force no later than July 2018.''

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Taylor Rae

Taylor Rae

Before university, Taylor spent a year abroad living in Thailand which encouraged her to finish her degree studying in Turkey, both experiences have made her an avid traveller. Taylor graduated from Thompson Rivers University with a degree in Communications and Public Relations. Although born on the coast, Taylor has lived the majority of her life in Kamloops and enjoys what the region has to offer. In her spare time, you can find Taylor volunteering in the community or out on an adventure with her friends and her dogs.