If you've had an interest in growing cannabis in your home and you live in Manitoba, you'll soon be able to do so legally.
The provincial government is lifting a ban on homegrown recreational cannabis on May 1. That means anyone aged 19 or older can grow up to four cannabis plants in their homes.
Trevor Shewfelt is a co-host on the Reefer MEDness and is happy that Wab Kinew and his party changed the ban.
"They were thoughts of being worried if you're a property owner and rent your home, if your tenants grew cannabis, would that decrease your property value, and child safety," said Shewfelt. "In my opinion, it was overblown. We are very glad that the provincial NDP under Wab Kinew changed their mind, allowing us to be on the same playing field as most of Canada."
With the ban lifted, Quebec is now the only province in Canada that does not allow for cannabis to be grown recreationally in homes. Shewfelt highlights a few reasons why this is a positive for cannabis users.
"It is way cheaper to grow your own plants than it is to buy them at the store," continued Shewfelt. "Just like tomatoes or watermelons and things like that, it's cheaper to do it yourself. You can also get the variety you want, know exactly how it was grown, it's now under your control."
While people must remain cautious when using cannabis, especially if they are planning to operate a vehicle afterward, Shewfelt says there are benefits to recreational use.
"It's used for sleep, pain, and anxiety. There is a lot of evidence that at times, cannabis works very well for those things," ended Shewfelt. "Putting my pharmacist back on, cannabis is safe."
According to reports, there have been no deaths from overdosing on cannabis.
