Canadians will be able to grow it in their home

POLITICIANS in Canada last night paved the way for the country to be the first G7 country to legalise cannabis use.

A bill was passed by 205 votes to 82 in the Canadian House of Commons. The legislation must now pass the Senate, and receive royal assent by the governor general before becoming law, which is likely to be before September.

Health minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor said the government would follow the recommendation by experts to allow Canadians to grow up to four cannabis plants at home for personal use.

The bill already includes curbs on advertising such as plain packaging. The minister said: ‘It is already possible for Canadians to grow cannabis for medical purposes and we absolutely believe the legislation should be consistent when it comes to recreational cannabis.’

Legalising cannabis was a 2015 campaign promise of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has admitted having smoked a joint with friends ‘five or six times’.