Even a small liquor store offers something of a tour of the world, with wine from six or eight countries at least.

Quebec’s SAQ’s spirits alone are sourced from 61 different countries, and wine from 34.

Cannabis, on the other hand, is more sturdily patriotic — Canadians buying recreational marijuana when it’s legal will only find pot grown and processed within our own borders. It’s a limit built into the brand-new Cannabis Act.

“Even within the industry, I talk to people time and time again who aren’t aware of this,” says Ottawa lawyer Trina Fraser. “They just assume that legalization meant that we could import and export for recreational purposes. I’m even giving a dose of reality to my own clients, who say ‘I’m going to negotiate this supply deal,’ and I’m like, ‘You can’t. This is an absolute no.’”

Fraser thinks the limit was an acknowledgement that Canada was stretching the limits of three narcotics treaties in which we promised not to legalize marijuana.

“I think the treaties were at least part of it, and I think that thought was that whatever that reaction was would be even more pronounced if we were permitting the exporting and importing of recreational cannabis.”

“I don’t think that’s going to change any time soon. I don’t think there’s any political appetite to get into that.”

There is a legal opening, though, to import medical marijuana.

Toronto lawyer Marvin Igelman, who is a partner in a medical marijuana business in Jamaica, sees the island as an ideal place to produce cannabis because of “the weather, and the wage rate.” He’s exploring importing Jamaican cannabis for the Canadian medical market.

“It is cheaper to produce it in Jamaica. It’s ideal for outdoor grow. Land is very, very inexpensive there.”

Jamaica formally allows medical marijuana but still largely bans recreational consumption, though it’s often tolerated.