Canopy Growth Corp (WEED)

[Wo]

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2018
House of Commons Debates

@1445hrs
Mr. Alain Rayes (Richmond—Arthabaska, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the Quebec National Assembly passed its cannabis bill yesterday. It legislates a maximum of 150 grams per household, zero tolerance for driving under the influence, and a ban on home cultivation.
My question for the Prime Minister is simple. Is he finally going to respect provincial jurisdictions and let Quebec, and every Canadian province, as well as first nations, legislate in their own areas of jurisdiction?

Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to acknowledge that everyone across Canada and in every jurisdiction agrees that it is time to put an end to the present system, which fails to protect our children and puts billions of dollars every year into the hands of organized crime, and replace it with a better system that controls and regulates the sale of marijuana.
We consulted experts, we worked very hard, and we listened to what the experts had to say. Our decision has been made and we firmly believe that these measures are the best way to protect Canadians, our youth, and our communities, and that is what we are going to do.

Mr. Alain Rayes (Richmond—Arthabaska, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, this government never listened to health experts, police forces, business leaders, municipalities, first nations, or the Senate, which spent many hours doing incredible work. Now, the provinces, who have asked for more time, are asking us to simply respect their jurisdictions.
Again, my question for the Prime Minister is very simple. Will he respect the jurisdictions of Canada's provinces as well as those of first nations, and allow them to prohibit home cultivation of cannabis?

Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to note that we always respect the provinces and indigenous peoples, as well as the work that they do. We are putting forward a bill that will protect our children and prevent organized crime from making huge profits from the sale of marijuana. The Conservatives keep playing politics with this issue.
I want to thank the senators and every expert who spoke to this issue. We are moving forward with measures that will protect Canadians.


https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/house/latest/hansard