Justin Trudeau set to legalise cannabis in Canada 'by July 2018'

Smoking cannabis could be legal in Canada by next summer.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to introduce legislation to legalise the drug by July 1, 2018, according to public broadcaster CBC.

The governing Liberal party has said it is committed to having the legislation ready this spring but would not officially confirm the date it would come into effect.

Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould said the new law would "legalise, strictly regulate, and restrict access to cannabis."

"This will be done in a careful way to keep it out of the hands of children and youth, and to stop criminals from profiting," she said.

"In order to meet our commitment to legalise, the legislation will need to pass through the parliamentary process in a timely fashion."

Medical marijuana has been legal in Canada since 2001 and is grown by federally licensed producers.

Young Canadians are among the biggest users of Cannabis in the world.

The legalisation news was noticed online by rapper Snoop Dogg, who tweeted "Oh Canada!"