Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the incoming Coalition Avenir Québec government's plan to raise the legal age for smoking cannabis to 21 could leave an opening for organized crime across the province.
Speaking to reporters this morning on the last day of a trip to Armenia, Trudeau said increasing the legal age could undermine one of the federal law's key aims — eliminating the black market.
Trudeau said he hopes to discuss the issue further with incoming Premier and CAQ leader, François Legault.
The federal Cannabis Act sets the minimum age for cannibas consumption at 18, but allows provinces and territories to establish their own rules.
In all provinces and territories, the legal age will be 18 or 19 when cannabis becomes legal this Wednesday, but Legault has promised to raise Quebec's minimum age to 21.
Prime Minister Trudeau said he personally agrees with a legal age of 18.