The Liberal government avoided a disastrous result for its marquee marijuana bill Thursday, as the bill to legalize recreational marijuana passed a key legislative stage in the Senate. It's now headed to committee for further study.
Senators voted 44 to 29 to pass the bill, largely along partisan lines, at second reading. A defeat would have killed the bill, forcing the government to start over again in the House of Commons with new legislation, all the while jeopardizing plans for full legalization by summer.
In an effort to stave off an embarrassing defeat on one of the Trudeau government's most prominent campaign promises, some Independent senators were called back to Ottawa today to cast votes to move the marijuana bill to its next stage.