With the passage of Bill C-45, many are anticipating the legalization of cannabis in Canada. This doesn't mean people will be able to use cannabis right away, as there are still a few steps to go through, as explained by Weyburn Police Chief Marlo Pritchard.

“It’s not legal until it gets royal assent, which I am assuming will happen shortly, and then there is a date of implementation,” Pritchard explained. “I know the government has talked about mid-September, early fall, whatever that looks like.”

With cannabis still being illegal, and all the laws on the books being enforced, Pritchard said it doesn’t mean the Weyburn Police Service will be cracking down on possession of the drug. Instead, there will be a common sense approach.

“Currently, and we’ve been doing this for a while, is using our discretion in regards to possession of smaller amounts, whether it is mediation, or not necessarily laying the charge, we are using the discretion because we know it’s going to be legal in a very short period of time.”

The passage of the Cannabis Act won’t necessarily mean it will be a free-for-all when it comes to the drug, either.

“Still going to be a number of rules restricting access, where it can be used, who can sell it, who can possess it, how much you can possess, that is all going to be both at the federal level, and of course the provincial cannabis act will come into effect whenever this becomes legal in Canada,” Pritchard added.

The federal government announced Wednesday afternoon the effective date of the Cannabis Act will be October 17th.