The Manitoba government announced its intention to lift the ban on homegrown recreational cannabis, a move that would make Quebec the only province in Canada with such a restriction. The decision aligns Manitoba with the federal limit of four homegrown plants per household, set after the legalization of recreational cannabis in 2018. The former Progressive Conservative government in Manitoba had imposed an outright ban alongside Quebec, citing concerns about cannabis falling into the hands of children or entering the black market. However, these concerns did not materialize when medical marijuana was legalized earlier. The New Democrats, led by Premier Wab Kinew, promised during last year’s provincial election to lift the ban, a commitment welcomed by activist Jesse Lavoie. A bill to enact the change is expected to be introduced in the legislature soon, although its passage into law remains uncertain. The NDP government faces time constraints due to the upcoming summer break and the end of session, where unpassed bills are automatically killed. The Tories, now in Opposition, have indicated potential delays, while Kinew expressed confidence in the NDP’s ability to pass the bill through legislative steps.
