Cannabis Amnesty was an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to righting the wrongs caused by decades of cannabis criminalization in Canada, particularly its impact on racialized and Indigenous communities who are overrepresented in cannabis arrests. From May 2018 to December 2022, Cannabis Amnesty was at the forefront of legislative and policy change, advocating for the deletion of cannabis-related criminal records for offences that no longer constituted a crime.

Through our programs and campaigns, we advocated for legislative reform, worked to educate the public, dismantle barriers to economic opportunity and champion equity within the cannabis industry. Thanks in part to our advocacy, on November 17, 2022, Bill C-5, An Act to Amend the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, received Royal Assent, granting amnesty to all individuals for the offence of simple possession of cannabis.

While Cannabis Amnesty closed its doors in 2023, our members and leadership continue to advocate for fair and compassionate justice reform.

Latest News

22November2022
November 22, 2022

Cannabis Amnesty applauds Bill C-5

By Cannabis Amnesty

Cannabis Amnesty applauds the steps taken by the Government of Canada to decrease the impact that the blunt instrument of criminal law has on Indigenous, Black and vulnerable people in Canada. Bill C-5 also represents an approach to drug consumption …

28March2022
March 28, 2022

Cannabis Amnesty partners with pot companies to help communities affected by prohibition

By Cannabis Amnesty

A new internship between Cannabis Amnesty and TOQi Technologies Ltd. with funding support from Aurora Cannabis Inc., will create two paid positions in order to support the advocacy goals of Cannabis Amnesty. Learn more. Learn more HERE.

28March2022
March 28, 2022

TOQi Fellowship for Cannabis Amnesty

By Cannabis Amnesty

In partnership with TOQi and Aurora Cannabis, Cannabis Amnesty is offering two paid summer internships, designed to create economic opportunities for people from communities harmed by decades of cannabis prohibition while increasing Cannabis Amnesty’s capacity to develop groundbreaking advocacy and …