Canada gives a timeline for legalizing marijuana in 2017.

At the United Nations General Assembly Special Assembly on drugs in New York on April 20, Canadian Minister of Health Jane Philpott reiterated the government’s pledge to legalize marijuana, and offered a timeline for the plan as she addressed world delegates.

"We will introduce legislation in spring 2017 that ensures we keep marijuana out of the hands of children and profits out of the hands of criminals," Philpott said in a speech hailed by drug policy reformers for her advocacy of marijuana legalization and harm reduction.

"We will work with law enforcement partners to encourage appropriate and proportionate criminal justice measures," Philpott continued. "We know it is impossible to arrest our way out of this problem.”

Her remarks are the latest confirmation of Canada’s plan to legalize marijuana — a promise Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made in his campaign, and appears to be delivering.