Canada recently became the first industrialized nation to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes. The policy change is a reflection of strong public support and fulfills a campaign pledge of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who’s acknowledged marijuana prohibition does not work. Several other countries are considering following Canada’s lead but have signed international drug treaties that forbid the sale of recreational marijuana.

Sanho Tree, director of the Drug Policy Project at the Institute for Policy Studies, joined CGTN to discuss the implications of the change.