Canada to legalise marijuana by 2018

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is reportedly planning to announce legislation that will legalise recreational marijuana use across the country.

Under the proposals, producers would be licensed and the national age limit to buy it would be set at 18, although some provinces would be allowed to set it higher.

Canadians who want to grow their own marijuana would be limited to four plants per household.

Provinces would also control the price, along with how the drug is bought and sold, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), which first reported the plans.

If the drug is legalised, it will fulfil a campaign promise made by Mr Trudeau's Liberal Party during the country's November 2015 general election.

At the time they said it was necessary to "legalise, regulate and restrict access to marijuana" in order to keep drugs "out of the hands of children, and the profits out of the hands of criminals."

Their suggested regulations closely follow recommendations laid out in a December 2016 report by a federal task force.

Until the legislation is made law, Mr Trudeau has made it clear that the drug will remain illegal, saying earlier this month: “Until we have a framework to control and regulate marijuana, the current laws apply.”