The analysts expect 'meaningful legal recreational sales' to roll-out on a national level by September/October.

Analysts at Canaccord Genuity hailed the Canadian Senate’s decision Thursday to legalize recreational marijuana as a “watershed moment” and they expect cannabis to go on sale by September or October.

However, the analysts pointed out that there were several logistical hurdles because new retail systems needed time to launch successfully.

The long road to marijuana legalization faced another critical last step last week as the Senate voted on Bill C-45.

This bill will effectively alter the Criminal Code and some portions of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to allow legal access to cannabis in this country.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau originally promised that Canadians would be able to light their first legal joint on July 1, 2018.

However, given the numerous political and administrative delays that Bill C-45 has faced so far, that deadline is looking more and more likely to go up in smoke.

At times, the Senate study of the bill felt never-ending.

Senate passes marijuana bill with 46 amendments.

The legalization of cannabis will not result in a dramatic increase in usage, says P.E.I. Senator Diane Griffin.

Griffin made the comments after Bill C-45 passed the Senate on Thursday night with 46 amendments.

"Anyone who thinks all of a sudden the gates are going to be wide open to marijuana use is daydreaming," Griffin said on CBC's Island Morning.

"A lot of people have been using it for many years, especially young people, and they were being criminalized for it."

Griffin and fellow Island senator Percy Downe voted in favour of the cannabis bill, while Mike Duffy did not register a vote.

Long-term goal of Justin Trudeau's Liberal party set to be realised after Conservative senators defeated.

Canada has taken a key step towards legalising recreational marijuana after senators voted in favour of new legislation permitting nationwide use of the drug.

The upper chamber Senate voted 56 to 30 in favour of new rules on Thursday, but also included amendments the House of Commons will need to decide on before the law can be passed.

With marijuana set to be legalized in Canada, the market for retail office space has lit up big time in Red Deer.

Jeremy Makila with RE/MAX Commercial in Red Deer says businesspeople are coming from far and wide to snatch up what’s currently available with the hopes of opening up a retail cannabis store.

“You’re seeing some spaces leased up that likely would’ve sat a bit longer if it weren’t for this almost artificial rush. There are no new industries that come out that would cause this. To have an influx like this is very artificial in the market,” he says.

One of the biggest milestones in the Canadian history of legalized weed might come into play this summer.

As of right now, marijuana remains a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Drug and Substances Act. Unless otherwise regulated for production and distribution for medical purposes, it is subject to offenses under that act. Processing and selling marijuana for non-medical purposes is still illegal everywhere in Canada.

The Cannabis Act, also known as Bill C-45, is an act that was introduced to Canadian Parliament in 2017. This act would legalize cannabis nationwide when combined with Bill C-46, an act to amend the criminal code.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister says he will consider closing a loophole that allows people to eat marijuana-infused brownies and other homemade edibles in public places when cannabis is federally legalized this year.

But he says enforcing a ban — such as one many other provinces are already planning — could be difficult.

"We talked with the RCMP and other policing authorities and there were concerns about how enforceable is it to have someone in a playground on the weekend, eating a cookie, and do you check to see if it's got cannabis or do you not? And how much does this cost, and all those questions," Pallister said Thursday. 

"This is a moving target in some respects. We're going to try to get the rules as best we can to protect people."

Here's everything you need to know about this game-changing cannabis vote.

After a very, very long wait, the big day is finally here. After 14 months of debate, speeches, and voting on various amendments, today, Thursday, June 7, Canada's Senate will be voting on whether or not to pass bill C-45, or as the bill is more commonly known, the Cannabis Act.

Councillors still have chance to adapt bylaw in July meeting.

A city committee thinks Edmontonians should be allowed to smoke cannabis in outside public places like parks and sidewalks — as part of the new bylaw governing cannabis use.

On Wednesday, the city's community and public services committee agreed to those rules, which are similar to current tobacco bylaws.

People smoking cannabis outside would have to be 10 metres away from doors and open windows and 30 metres away from children's amenities, like playgrounds.

Smoking weed would also be banned on patios and at places like schools.

Similar to tobacco and electronic cigarettes, you won't be able to smoke legally in Churchill Square, Fort Edmonton Park or the zoo.

With the Ontario general election just a day away, party leaders are making their final pitch to voters and political pundits are scratching their heads, trying to predict a winner.

The Progressive Conservative Party and the New Democratic Party are in a dead heat, with both expected to win 37% of the votes, according to an aggregation of polls. The Liberal Party, which has governed the province since 2003, is a distant third with 19%.

The legalization of recreational cannabis is just around the corner, and Ontario is a hub for the country’s cannabis industry, so stakeholders have been paying close attention to the election campaign. Here is what they have heard from the main parties: