Canada recently became the first industrialized nation to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes.

The policy change is a reflection of strong public support and fulfills a campaign pledge of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who’s acknowledged marijuana prohibition does not work.

Several other countries are considering following Canada’s lead but have signed international drug treaties that forbid the sale of recreational marijuana.

CGTN’s Karina Huber reports from Toronto.

Follow Karina Huber on Twitter @kkat31

To discuss the new policy and what it will mean on an international level:

• Jodie Emery is a cannabis rights activist, who was fined and placed on probation for operating illegal dispensaries in Canada.
• Jeremy Szafron is a journalist who created The Green Scene Podcast and exclusively covers the cannabis industry.
• Carla Lowe is the founder of Citizens against Legalizing Marijuana.
• Sanho Tree is a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies and the Director of its Drug Policy Project.

For more:

As of October 17, 2018, buying and possessing #cannabis will be legal in Canada for adults aged 18 or 19 and older, depending on where you live. Learn more about Canada’s new #cannabis law: https://t.co/wKMIB3pcaJ. #C45 #CannabisAct #marijuana pic.twitter.com/P6NypEJyHD

— GovCanHealth (@GovCanHealth) June 28, 2018

Nice so-called “Legalization”, Canada. 😒

“Under the new law, possession over the legal limit of 30 grams could carry a penalty of five years.” #C45 #CannabisAct #FakeLegalization #ReCriminalization #Illegalization https://t.co/YRJpW8YFDd

— Jodie Emery (@JodieEmery) June 24, 2018

Is Canada's marijuana the new Bitcoin? Stocks have surged after legalization https://t.co/m3QP38XcP7 pic.twitter.com/OB63boTgAY

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) July 2, 2018