Government's cannabis bill faces live-or-die vote in Senate today

Upper house could throw wrench in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's plan for full legalization by summer
CBC News (Canada)
Thursday, March 22, 2018

The government's cannabis bill faces outright defeat in the Senate if it can't secure enough support from members of the Red Chamber. According to an agreed timetable, senators will hold a vote at second reading of the bill today. If the opposition Tories cobble together enough votes to defeat C-45, the legislation would be effectively dead — meaning the government would have to restart the entire legislative process in the House. If that happens, a summer timeline for legalization becomes much less likely. (See alsdo: Senate gives approval in principle to bill to legalize recreational marijuana | Trudeau government avoids defeat on key pot bill vote)