Canada’s Supreme Court Might Lift Quebec’s Ban On Growing Cannabis For Personal Use

Canada legalized recreational marijuana four years ago, which included allowing individuals to possess cannabis plants and grow up to four of them on their private residence. While this left many Canadians thrilled with the government’s permission, one province got the short end of the stick. 

The largest province in Canada, Quebec, adopted its own Cannabis Regulation Act around the time marijuana was deemed federally legal. Under the province’s regulations, individuals are prohibited from possessing cannabis plants and growing them for personal use on their residences. 

Finally, is some better news, the Supreme Court of Canada will give its two cents regarding Quebec’s Cannabis Regulation Act, discussing if the rule prohibiting cannabis plants falls in line with federal laws.

Wanting to bring some change to the province, and hopefully others with similar bans, Janick Murray-Hall took the issue to Quebec law in 2019, and it was successfully deemed unconstitutional by the province’s Superior Court, adding that this specific regulation should be made by federal law and not provincial. 

Unfortunately, in 2021, the Quebec Court of Appeal overturned the decision that declared provincial bans on growing personal marijuana were unconstitutional. This led Janick Murray-Hall to bring the issue over to the Supreme Court of Canada.

A personal campaign penned by Janick Murray-Hall notes that it’s “important to bring this battle up to the Supreme Court because it creates a precedent and will eventually allow Manitobans to grow at home as well.”

There are no current dates or times for the forthcoming Supreme Court hearing regarding the constitutionality of Quebec‘s ban on growing cannabis at home.