It’s Official: Recreational Marijuana Will Be Legal in Canada

Aurora Cannabis Inc (TSX:ACB) and other cannabis companies now have a timeline to work with as to when pot sales will begin rolling in.

| More on:

On Tuesday, the Senate approved Bill C-45 and marijuana legislation is on its way to receiving Royal Assent and becoming law. The last hurdle has been cleared and we’ll see recreational pot sold in stores eight to 12 weeks from now, which puts us near the end of summer.

The Senate gave its initial approval a few weeks ago, but because that bill had amendments, it had to return to the House of Commons to receive approval on the changes, as the two sides need to agree on the exact same version. The House ultimately did accept many, but not all of the changes, and sent bill back to the Senate.

The Senate decided that the issues were not worth the fight and approved the bill with a convincing 52-29 vote, as the danger loomed that with the House not being in session after this week until September that prolonged talks could delay the legalization process by a further couple of months.

What this means for the country

Shortly after the process was finalized, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted the news, saying “It’s been too easy for our kids to get marijuana – and for criminals to reap the profits. Today, we change that. Our plan to legalize & regulate marijuana just passed the Senate.”

While an ethical argument could be made as to how legalizing marijuana could be helpful for society, to suggest that home cultivation and making pot even more acceptable than it already is will somehow make it harder for kids to obtain marijuana is a bit of a leap, especially considering the problems we see with underage drinking and smoking.

The reality of this is that we’ll see many issues (and costs) come out of this that likely aren’t even on the radar right now. Home cultivation, for instance, could create a big battle between landlords and tenants and how homeowners can protect their properties from the damage that can come from growing marijuana, especially when cultivated improperly.

What this means for investors

In short, what legal pot does for companies is it sends their sales soaring. Up until now it’s only been medical marijuana that has been legalized, and with growers now being able to open their doors to the general public, revenues will get a big boost.

Aurora Cannabis Inc. (TSX:ACB) has been building its capacity and resources through acquisitions in anticipation of having to meet significant demand. By comparison, Canopy Growth Corp. (TSX:WEED)(NYSE:CGC) has multiple supply deals with provinces locked-in, as it has preferred to build its reach through key partnerships rather than pricey acquisitions.

Both companies will undoubtedly get a big boost from the news today. The big question is how much of that growth is already priced into their current share prices. Pot stocks have already risen significantly over the past year, and while excitement may be high, investors should be careful in deciding whether to buy.

Canopy Growth’s stock has risen more than 430% in the past 12 months, while Aurora Cannabis is up around 350%.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

More on Investing

The virtual button with the letters AI in a circle hovering above a keyboard, about to be clicked by a cursor.
Tech Stocks

Emerging Canadian AI Companies With Big Potential

These tech stocks are paving the way to an AI-filled future, but still offer enough growth ahead for a strong…

Read more »

Young Boy with Jet Pack Dreams of Flying
Tech Stocks

Is Constellation Software Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold for 2025?

CSU stock has long been a strong option for high growth, high value stocks. But are there now too many…

Read more »

rising arrow with flames
Investing

2 Riskier Stocks With High Potential for Canadian Investors in November

Risky stocks such as Well Health Technologies have the potential to provide life-changing long-term returns.

Read more »

hand stacks coins
Dividend Stocks

3 Ultra-High-Yield Dividend Stocks You Can Buy and Hold for a Decade

These three high-yield dividend stocks still have some work to do, but each are in steady areas that are only…

Read more »

senior man and woman stretch their legs on yoga mats outside
Dividend Stocks

TFSA: 2 Canadian Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever

Here are 2 TFSA-worthy Canadian stocks. Which one is a good buy for your TFSA today?

Read more »

Canada day banner background design of flag
Investing

Got $500? 5 Top Canadian Stocks to Buy and Hold

These top Canadian stocks have solid fundamentals with potential to outperform the benchmark index by a wide margin.

Read more »

man touches brain to show a good idea
Energy Stocks

1 No-Brainer Energy Stock to Buy With $500 Right Now

Should you buy a cyclical energy stock at its decade-high? Probably not. But read this before you make a decision.

Read more »

Asset Management
Stocks for Beginners

TFSA: 4 Canadian Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever

Thinking about what to buy with the new TFSA contribution space in 2025? These four Canadian stocks are worth holding…

Read more »