Senators on the legal affairs committee noted with alarm that it could easily be late fall, or longer, before police forces can order the devices once ones are approved.

Despite the legalization of marijuana looming this summer, officials with the justice and public safety departments say it’s still unknown when roadside screening devices to test for drug impairment will be approved for use.

Speaking at the Senate legal affairs committee, the officials said they couldn’t even confirm if the testing of devices has started, as it’s being conducted independently by the National Research Council and then evaluated by an expert committee of the Canadian Society of Forensic Science.

Baby boomers expected to drive sales as they switch to cannabis from other medications.

Cannabis-sector CEOs are bullish about the prospect for sales once Canada legalizes marijuana and say that the market will soar far above many estimates.

At the Arcview Group’s cannabis investment conference on May 2, the CEOs of three Canadian cannabis companies were united in predicting the legal cannabis market in Canada will fast outpace expectations.

A recent New Frontier Data report pinned the domestic cannabis market in Canada at $9.2 billion by 2025, sustained by higher average medical consumption. More conservative estimates pin federal sales at $4.5 billion by 2027.

MLAs have been told liquor stores need two entrances in order to sell the drug.

With a cannabis legalization only months away, some N.W.T. MLAs and regulators are saying different things about what will be required for liquor stores in the territory to sell the drug.

Over the past 11 days, MLAs travelled to 16 communities to get feedback on the territorial government's proposed Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Implementation Act, or Bill 6.

But instead of people voicing their opinions about the regulations, they asked more questions. 

Conservatives want Liberals to give more time to the Senate to address concerns.

When the federal government revealed what pot legalization would look like in Canada, it put forward two proposed laws to police the new regime: one to change the rules governing the sale and distribution of the drug itself and another to help police better address impaired driving.

Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould said they were "companion" pieces of legislation.

Now, as legalization creeps closer, it seems the fates of the two bills aren't as closely linked as first thought. The Liberal government's point man on pot said Wednesday recreational cannabis use will become legal even if the impaired driving law is still being debated by the Senate.

Opinion piece references a study "based on a foundation of falsehoods".

An op-ed published by CBC today states that the legalization of cannabis is based on "highly dubious claims and grossly optimistic expectations", and that the Liberal government should not proceed with the bill as planned.

In fact, the opinion piece in question has a series of its own issues, including a reference to a study that was debunked by a leading cannabis researcher in 2016. 

The first indication that the piece should be taken with a grain (read: teaspoon) of salt is hidden in the author's description near the bottom of the story.

Banning Canadians from growing a few marijuana plants in their homes or backyards once recreational cannabis is legalized would be both paternalistic and unenforceable, former federal justice minister Anne McLellan says.

McLellan, who chaired the federal task force on cannabis legalization, offered that opinion Wednesday during an appearance before the Senate’s social affairs committee, which is examining the federal government’s bill to legalize pot use.

The bill would allow individuals to grow up to four plants per dwelling — a provision that has raised concerns among senators, apartment and condo owners, municipalities and police.

As a major policy change comes down the pike in Canada on legalizing marijuana, a consultant on the topic told a Cornwall business audience that this “fluid” event will leave businesses with questions even after it’s legalized.

Ivan Vrana worked 18 years with Health Canada on the cannabis file before moving over to the private sector, consulting on marijuana in 2013. He’s been with the Ottawa consulting firm, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, as its vice president of public affairs since 2015.

Vrana told a chamber of commerce luncheon at Ramada Cornwall on Wednesday that the provincial and federal governments still have a lot to do before pot is legal for recreational use in this country.

Province continues to prepare for July legalization of cannabis.

Municipal leaders had the chance to discuss the legalization of cannabis and how it could impact their communities before closing out the Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL) Symposium May 5.

Sean Ryan, the Newfoundland Liquor Corperation’s (NLC) vice-president of Regulatory Services and Social Responsibility, spoke at the Gander session to field cannabis questions.

“It’s probably the biggest societal shift I’ll see in my generation,” the retired law enforcement officer said about the July roll-out goal. “A lot of issues need to be met head on before welcoming product into the community.”

A Senate committee has asked the Trudeau government to come up with a plan to deal with the political and legal fallout when Canada legalizes recreational cannabis later this year, and thereby flouts its treaty obligations and international law.

Canada normally considers itself — and is widely seen as — a nation that respects treaties and lives up to its international obligations, just as it expects other countries to do.

But that international reputation for reliably upholding its legal commitments is expected to take a big hit when non-medicinal cannabis is legalized, according to evidence recently presented to the Senate’s Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

So far, the NDP government hasn't faced any serious criticism from opposition MLAs in its efforts to amend the Motor Vehicle Act in response to the federal legalization of cannabis.

But near the end of a debate over Bll 17 on May 8, Solicitor General Mike Farnworth expressed serious concerns about how some B.C. residents will be treated entering the U.S. if they truthfully answer a border guard's question.

In particular, he's worried about the potential of ordinary citizens being denied access to the United States as a result of doing something legal in Canada: consuming cannabis.