Supreme Court agrees to examine constitutionality of Quebec cannabis law

OTTAWA – The Supreme Court of Canada will weigh the constitutionality of a Quebec law that forbids the growing of cannabis for personal use.

Four years ago the federal government legalized recreational cannabis, allowing people to grow up to four cannabis plants per residence for their own use.

However, Quebec’s Cannabis Regulation Act prohibited possession of cannabis plants and cultivation for personal purposes in the province.

Janick Murray-Hall successfully challenged the Quebec law, which was declared unconstitutional in 2019 by the province’s Superior Court on the basis it strayed into federal jurisdiction.

However, the decision was overturned last year by the Quebec Court of Appeal, prompting Murray-Hall to head to the Supreme Court.

As usual, the high court gave no reasons for agreeing to hear the appeal, and no hearing date has yet been set.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 10, 2022.