Government rejects 13 changes to pot bill, including ban on home growing

OTTAWA — The federal Liberal government is rejecting more than a dozen Senate amendments to its landmark law to legalize cannabis, including the upper chamber’s efforts to further limit — or ban outright — the ability to cultivate marijuana at home.

In a motion put before the House of Commons, the Liberals say they can’t support a Senate amendment that would allow provinces to ban home cultivation, arguing the bill already gives provinces the ability to impose restrictions. The original legislation, once passed, would allow up to four marijuana plants per dwelling.

Quebec and Manitoba have already chosen to prohibit homegrown weed, but the amendment would have erased the possibility of legal challenges. The government argues it is “critically important” to permit Canadians to grow pot at home in order to support the main goal of shutting down the illegal market.

“We have spent months, and indeed years, talking with experts, reflecting on the best path forward,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “One of the strong recommendations by experts was that we ensure personal cultivation of four plants at home.”

Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor said consistency demands that cultivation be permitted, considering the other controlled substances that can be made at home, such as beer and wine.

The Liberals also say they won’t support amendments aimed at banning the sale of marijuana company-branded swag like T-shirts, nor one that would have required a registry of anyone involved in cannabis companies.

The government says it can live with 27 of the changes to the bill, is proposing tweaks to two other amendments, and is rejecting 13 outright.