Votes to Legalize Pot Votes pour Légaliser le Cannabis A bill that legalizes the recreational use of marijuana in Canada has passed the Senate 52 to 29, meaning that by September, Canadians should be able to buy and consume the drug legally. Honestly, at this point it kind of feels like they're just showing off. Canadians spent an estimated $4.5 billion (USD) on marijuana in 2015, which is roughly how much they spent on wine. If you were going back and forth on opening up the poutine shop of your dreams, now is the time to seize your moment.