Toronto Board of Health Says Canada Should Legalize Marijuana Immediately

Canada is still sailing toward legal recreational marijuana launching in 2018, but the Toronto Board of Health says the country should decriminalize immediately. It would be an effort to prevent more possession convictions just before legalization takes effect. The vote to recommend decriminalization was unanimous.

Toronto’s medical officer of health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, recommended decriminalization, according to Yahoo! News Canada. The recommendations also included setting the legal age to purchase marijuana at 19, rather than 18, as lawmakers previously suggested. Dr. de Villa also included recommendations for strict marketing and advertising regulations for the marijuana industry.

She said that, “A significant number of young Canadians will continue to obtain criminal charges before cannabis is legalized.”