The Government of British Columbia announced a new legislation proposal on Thursday in preparation for Canada to legalize marijuana this year.

The Government of British Columbia is proposing new rules making 19 the legal age to purchase, sell or consume cannabis, allow adults to possess up to 30 grams of cannabis in public spaces and ban smoking or vaping cannabis in the same places tobacco smoking and vaping in prohibited. The legislation will also ban smoking or vaping recreational cannabis at playgrounds and other places where children gather.

“The legislation introduced today provides a sound foundation for the regulation and safe implementation legalized cannabis in British Columbia,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “This marks a major milestone and puts our province in a position to not only be ready for federal cannabis legalization in late summer, but does so in a way that reflects the province’s goals for legalized cannabis that prioritize public health and safety, particularly for our children and youth.”

The country originally set the nationwide legalization date to July 1, 2018, but that has since been pushed back and will be delayed until later in the summer.

The federal government introduced three pieces of legislation including the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act which gives each province the rights over wholesale distribution of cannabis as well as public retail sales.

Retail shops in B.C. will be either government or privately owned. The government owned shops will operate under the new brand BC Cannabis Stores, and while they will be stand-alone shops, they will be aligned with the BC liquor store brand.

The first government owned retail stores and online sales are expected to be running by the end of summer 2018. The stores will be allowed to sell a maximum of 30 grams of dried product or its equivalent in oil to an individual at any one time.

BC Cannabis Stores will be the province’s only online cannabis retailer.

The government also introduced changes to the Motor Vehicle Act that addresses drug-impaired driving in British Columbia. There will be a zero tolerance restriction for the presence of THC for new drivers. There will also be a 90-day driving prohibition for anyone police reasonable believe operated a motor vehicle while impaired by drug or by a combination of drugs and alcohol.

“As I’ve said before, the date set by the federal government for cannabis legalization will just be the beginning. B.C. will monitor implementation and make any necessary adjustments to provincial regulations and ensure our provincial goals are being met,” said Farnworth.