In a vote of 56 to 30 in favour, with one abstention, the Senate has voted to pass Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act.

Vote result on third reading of Bill #C45, as amended: Yeas: 56 Nays: 30 Abstentions: 1 https://t.co/wp8fYQUZ1V #SenCA #cdnpoli #Cannabis pic.twitter.com/NZ9Xya2bGV

— Senate of Canada (@SenateCA) June 8, 2018

The vote brings Canada one step closer to lifting its prohibition on recreational cannabis that has been in place for 95-years.

Bill C-45 now moves back to the House of Commons, where the 40 plus amendments including branding and packing limitations, penalties for “social sharing” of cannabis with minors and provincial restrictions for home cultivation will be considered by Members of Parliment.

Photo Credit: File Photo.

The government will have to agree whether to approve, reject or modify the changes before returning the bill back to the Senate for another vote.

Once the bill passes another vote in the Senate, provinces and territories will need an eight-to-twelve week implementation period to prepare before retail sales of legal cannabis are actually available.

The bill will officially become law once it is granted Royal Assent.

Once granted Royal Assent by the Governer General, the bill will officially become law, making Canada the first G7 country to legalize recreational cannabis.