Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Canada eyes plan to legalize marijuana by 2018: 5 things to know

On Thursday, the Canadian government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled its plans to legalize recreational marijuana.

If the Cannabis Act passes Parliament, Canada would become the second nation in the world, after Uruguay, to regulate a legal marijuana market.

The government's new policy had been expected for some time as Trudeau had endorsed legalizing marijuana on the campaign trail.