Quebec challenges court ruling that allowed home cannabis cultivation

The Quebec government is appealing a courtruling that allows the cultivation of cannabis at home.

Last month, Quebec Superior Court Justice Manon Lavoie invalidated two sections of the provincial law that prohibited the cultivation of cannabis at home for personal purposes.

Lavoie said the legislation was unconstitutional because such a ban amounts to criminal legislation, which is under federal jurisdiction.

On Thursday,Lionel Carmant, the province's junior health minister,who overseescannabis policy, said the government looks at the issuefrom a public health angle.

He said the concern is that home growing will"normalize" pot consumption.

Premier Franois Legaultalso said the government is committed to fighting the decision. He said many building owners are concerned about potential damage to their property from cannabis growing setups.

Legault pointed out that both his own party and the previous Liberal government were opposed to home growing.

"It's the choice of the two main parties at the National Assembly," he said.

Cannabis has been legal in Canada since October 17, 2018.Federal laws allowresidentsto grow a maximum of four plants at home.

The Coalition Avenir Qubec government still plans to amend the law toraise the legal age of consumptionfrom 18 to 21.