Canada aiming to legalize marijuana in 2017

Canadian Health Minister Jane Philpott announced Wednesday at a UN special session on drugs that Canada will introduce legislation in 2017 to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana.

Philpott said while it "challenges the status quo in many countries," the move is the best thing for Canada. "I am proud to stand up for our drug policy that is informed by solid scientific evidence and uses a lens of public health to maximize education and minimize harm," she said. "As a doctor, who has worked both in Canada and sub-Saharan Africa, I have seen too many people suffer the devastating consequences of drugs, drug-related crime and ill-conceived drug policy."

The government plans to form a task force that will design a marijuana regulation system after gathering insight from provincial and territorial governments, experts, and the public, The Canadian Press reports. "I believe that if we respect one another's perspectives and seek common ground, we can achieve our shared objective: protecting our citizens," Philpott said. "Better yet, we can improve their lives."