Justin Trudeau's longstanding commitment to cannabis

After 12 years as prime minister, he's stepping down…here's a look back at Justin Trudeau's long commitment to cannabis.

Justin Trudeau's journey to legalize cannabis in Canada is a story of personal experience, political conviction and transformative policymaking. As the son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Justin's view of marijuana was shaped by a family incident involving his younger brother Michel. In 1998, Michel Trudeau was caught with marijuana during a traffic stop. Thanks to her father's connections and resources, the charges were dropped.

This event highlighted the inequities in Canada's drug laws, where those with the means can avoid consequences while others face criminal charges. Justin Trudeau later reflected on this, stating: “One of the fundamental injustices of this current system is that it affects different communities in different ways.”

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Trudeau's personal history with cannabis goes beyond family experiences. In 2013, he admitted to smoking marijuana at a dinner party at his Montreal home in 2008, after he had already been elected as a member of Parliament. As a sign of changing norms,
Although the admission was controversial, it did not have a significant impact on his political career.

As leader of the Liberal Party, Trudeau pushed for cannabis legalization during the 2015 federal election. His approach focused on regulation and harm reduction rather than economic benefits. Trudeau emphasized two main goals: minimizing minors' access to marijuana and reducing criminal activity related to illegal marijuana trafficking.

After its election victory, Trudeau's government took concrete steps towards legalization. In 2016, a task force was set up to investigate the issue. The following year, the Cannabis Act was introduced in Parliament, allowing the sale and possession of up to one ounce of marijuana for anyone.

On October 17, 2018, Canada became the second country in the world, after Uruguay, to legalize recreational cannabis nationwide. This move was seen as a bold reform that distinguished Trudeau's government from previous governments. The legalization process was not without challenges. The provinces were given significant responsibility for regulating sales, which caused some tension with the federal government .In addition, Trudeau has faced criticism from both supporters and opponents of legalization.

Following legalization, Trudeau's government announced plans to introduce a simplified, free process for pardoning people with simple proof of ownership. This move aimed to address historical inequities in cannabis law enforcement. Trudeau's approach to cannabis legalization reflects a combination of personal experience, pragmatic policymaking and a commitment to social justice. In moving from prohibition to regulation, Canada under Trudeau's leadership has embarked on a significant social and legal experiment, the results of which continue to unfold.

As Trudeau closes one chapter and begins another, he will continue to be an advocate for cannabis.