Marijuana will soon be legalized in Canada.
The new rules, if approved, will mean people can grow a few plants at home or even buy weed online.
Despite legalization coming down the pipeline, buying weed online is already possible – though not quite legal.
Right now there are more than 100 dispensaries in Vancouver that are operating outside of the federally-approved medical marijuana system, which requires a doctor’s note and Health Canada’s permission to buy from a licensed marijuana grower.
Of the more than 100 dispensaries, about 20 offer mail-order marijuana and ship weed in the mail.
The federal government’s task force that explored marijuana legalization in Canada said “while these activities are in violation of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) some cannabis stores (‘dispensaries’) and wellness clinics (‘compassion clubs’) have nevertheless been in operation for many years in parts of the country,” and that they “heard from several members of, and advocates for, this community who report developing and adhering to a strict internal code of standards, closely resembling self-regulation, and who wish to differentiate themselves from solely profit-driven, illicit enterprises.”
While no one has been charged for receiving pot in the mail, there’s still a risk for both producer and receiver without the proper approvals.
But with Canada’s new regulations, mail-order marijuana will likely become legal and safe for all.
How To Buy Weed Online
In late March, headlines broke that cannabis could be legalized by Canada Day, 2018.
An exclusive report from CBC revealed that the Liberal government was expected to announce legislation in early April that would legalize Canadian marijuana by July 1, 2018 – which they did.
CBC’s report suggests the marijuana legislation will “broadly follow the recommendation of a federally appointed task force” which include 80 recommendations.
Buying weed online is explored in those recommendations through “designing an appropriate distribution system.”
In addition to storefronts and other methods of distribution, the task force recommended access via a direct-to-consumer mail-order system.
It noted it could be especially useful to those living in rural and remote communities.
A report from the Canadian National Medical Marijuana Association (now called the National Institute for Cannabis Health and Education) expresses its support for a “phased-approach that utilizes existing, well-tested delivery methods such as mail-delivery.”
It’s important to note that even when legalized, there will still be strict rules about marijuana use and possession:
- A limit of 30 grams be implemented for the personal possession of non-medical dried cannabis in public
- A corresponding sales limit be implemented for dried cannabis
- Equivalent possession and sales limits for non-dried forms of cannabis be developed
And the task force recommends that the federal government:
- Regulate the production of cannabis and its derivatives (e.g., edibles, concentrates) at the federal level, drawing on the good production practices of the current cannabis for medical purposes system
- Use licensing and production controls to encourage a diverse, competitive market that also includes small producers
- Implement a seed-to-sale tracking system to prevent diversion and enable product recalls
Marijuana Use In Canada
The government task force that explored legalizing marijuana found that despite serious criminal penalties for possessing, producing, and selling cannabis, 10 per cent of adult Canadians 25 years and older report having used cannabis once in the past year.
And two-thirds reported using cannabis at least once in their lifetime.
Their report also noted that Canadian youth are more likely to consume cannabis (in the past year, 21 per cent of those aged 15-19, and 30 per cent of those aged 20-24) than adult Canadians or their peers worldwide.
“In view of these statistics, it is unsurprising that cannabis is widely available throughout Canada and that a well-established cannabis market exists in Canada,” the report notes. “Parallel to this illicit commercial market is a ‘cannabis culture,’ which is a widespread and deep rooted network that emphasizes the social and cultural aspects of cannabis use and the sharing of information on its cultivation.”
Beaver Bud looks forward to seeing exactly how the new regulations are formalized, and allowing its customers to buy marijuana online.
When Can I Buy Marijuana Online?
As the government task force writes in its report, “the current paradigm of cannabis prohibition has been with us for almost 100 years. We cannot, and should not, expect to turn this around overnight.”
It looks like it’s just a matter of time before people are able to buy weed online from Canadian producers.
But the kinks need to be worked out as the rules are finalized.
“While moving away from cannabis prohibition is long overdue, we may not anticipate every nuance of future policy; after all, our society is still working out issues related to the regulation of alcohol and tobacco,” the report acknowledges. “We are aware of the shortcomings in our current knowledge base around cannabis and the effects of cannabis on human health and development. As a result, the recommendations laid out in this report include appeals for ongoing research and surveillance, and a flexibility to adapt to and respond to ongoing and emerging policy needs.”
They acknowledge their role in “ the implementation of this new, transformative public policy.”
Stay tuned to this website for updates related to the formalization of the new laws, and of course, how you can buy weed online.
Beaver Bud and its affiliates look forward to giving you the opportunity to buy weed online in a safe and legal manner.
