Feds reject 13 Senate changes to pot bill. Legal marijuana battle in Canada not over..

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 of marijuana, arguing that the bill already gives provinces and territories the ability to impose their own restrictions.

Watch – Ottawa rejects Senate limits on growing pot at home

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 to their constitutional authority to do so.

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 on the legalization of cannabis because the current system doesn’t work,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“We’re making the changes to keep Canadians safe and 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.

“Canadians are allowed to make beer at home or wine, and some can even grow tobacco,” she said.

“It is already possible for Canadians to grow cannabis for medical purposes and we absolutely believe that the legislation should be consistent when it comes to recreational cannabis.”

Original Article – The Star