Canada is leading the G7 countries and is set to become the first of the US, Japan, Germany, U.K., France, and Italy to legalize marijuana nationwide. It will also be the first G20 state (an international forum for a global economic partnership that consists of 19 countries and the EU) to legalize marijuana as well. According to The Independent, the Canadian Senate is expected to approve Bill C-45, which will allow anyone over the age of 18 to purchase weed. The bill passed in the House of Commons and is backed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The Senate scrutinized the bill for six months, but they are expected to pass it. It will take two or three months after legislation passes for the sales of legal marijuana to take effect.
Since Canada will be the first G7 country to legalize weed, it will be set on a worldwide stage. For decades, governments have argued about what legalized marijuana could mean for the economy. Countries will see if legalization will bring down crime, overdoses on opioids, and sales on the black market. Legal marijuana is expected to bring in over $6 billion in business, according to a report by financial services company Deloitte. Regulations for the legal selling of weed requires the product be sold in clear packaging with limited branding and capped prices to help destroy the illegal sales of the plant.