Quebecers will soon have to be at least 21 years old to legally consume cannabis
By the Canadian Press
Change intended to protect youth, says junior health minister
Oct. 17 marked the 1-year anniversary of the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada. (Adobe Stock)
QUEBEC (CP) — The Quebec government has passed the most restrictive cannabis law in the country, voting to ban the consumption of marijuana in most public areas and to raise the legal age from 18 to 21 years.
Beginning Saturday, Quebecers will be prohibited from consuming marijuana in public.
But the law permits cities to adopt their own bylaws allowing people to smoke cannabis in specific public areas where no children are present.
As of Jan. 1, Quebecers under 21 years old will no longer be allowed to legally consume marijuana.
The previous Liberal government had set the legal age at 18.
Lionel Carmant, the province’s junior health minister, said the change is about protecting youth and sending a message that consuming cannabis is not a trivial matter.
A Quebec group representing cannabis growers, the Association quebecoise de l’industrie du cannabis, said the law pushes the most vulnerable consumers to the black market.
