Canada’s House of Commons votes to legalize marijuana

Canadian lawmakers on Monday voted to legalize recreational marijuana nationwide.

The House of Commons voted 205-82 to accept some of the Senate’s proposed amendments on the bill, sending the bill back to the upper chamber for continued debate and a final decision.

{mosads}The bill would lift a 95-year-old ban on recreational marijuana and sets the government up to regulate production, possession and sale of marijuana to Canadians over the age of 18.

The House of Commons turned down some of the Senate’s proposed amendments, including a ban on pot producers selling branded merchandise and giving provinces the power to ban homegrown marijuana, according to CTV News.

The Senate could take its next step forward as early as Monday evening. Lawmakers have said they expect marijuana to be legal and available about September.

Regulated medical marijuana has been legal in the country since 2001.

In the U.S., medical marijuana is legal in more than two dozen states, and recreational marijuana is legal in nine states and Washington, D.C.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions in January reversed the Obama-era Cole memo that allowed states to legalize recreational marijuana. Sessions has been a vocal opponent to legal marijuana.

Breaking with his own attorney general, President Trump said earlier this month that he would likely support a bipartisan bill that would allow states to regulate marijuana without federal interference.