Cannabis

Historical eventSeptember 182018

Cannabis

Cannabis is legalized in South Africa, through a ruling of the Constitutional Court.

Everything on September 18Original source

In context

When
Tuesday, September 18 20188 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
21st century · 2010s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 2018.

What came beforeAI-assisted

Cannabis has been used by humans for thousands of years, with evidence of cultivation dating back to ancient China around 12,000 years ago. The plant was valued for fiber, seeds, and medicinal properties across Asia, the Middle East, and eventually Europe.

Catalyst / how it startedAI-assisted

On September 18, 2018, Canada became the second country in the world to legalize recreational cannabis nationwide, following Uruguay's legalization in 2013. The Cannabis Act received royal assent, allowing adults to legally purchase and possess cannabis.

Who was involvedAI-assisted

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government championed the legalization effort as part of their 2015 election platform. Health Canada and provincial governments worked to establish regulatory frameworks for production, distribution, and sales.

TimelineAI-assisted

The Cannabis Act was introduced in Parliament in April 2017 and passed through multiple readings and committee reviews over 18 months. Legalization took effect on October 17, 2018, one month after royal assent, allowing retail sales to begin.

What happened

Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae that is widely accepted as being indigenous to and originating from the continent of Asia. However, the number of species is disputed, with as many as three species being recognized: Cannabis sativa, C. indica, and C. ruderalis. Alternatively, C. ruderalis may be included within C. sativa, or all three may be treated as subspecies of C. sativa, or C. sativa may be accepted as a single undivided species.

September 18 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 2006The CW
  2. 2007Saffron Revolution
  3. 2009CBS Studios
  4. 2010Philippe Croizon
  5. 20112011 Sikkim earthquake
  6. 2013Via Rail
  7. 20142014 Scottish independence referendum
  8. 20152015 Camp Badaber attack
  9. 20162016 Uri attack
  10. 2017Toys "R" Us
  11. 2018Cannabis

Also in 2018

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  • May 25General Data Protection RegulationThe General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) becomes enforceable in the European Union.
  • May 25Republic of IrelandIreland votes to repeal the Eighth Amendment of their constitution that prohibits abortion in all but a few cases, choosing to replace it…
  • August 10Horizon AirHorizon Air employee Richard Russell hijacks and performs an unauthorized takeoff on a Horizon Air Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 plane at Seattl…
  • August 102017–2019 Romanian protestsAn anti-government rally turns into a riot when members of the Romanian Gendarmerie attack the 100,000 people protesting in front of the…
  • January 3For the first time in history, all five major storm surge gates in the NetherlanFor the first time in history, all five major storm surge gates in the Netherlands are closed simultaneously in the wake of a storm.
  • August 14Ponte Morandi collapseThe collapse of the Ponte Morandi bridge in Genoa, Italy, left 16 people injured and 43 people killed.

Everything we record for 2018 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Cannabis”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/cannabis-2018-september-18, accessed October 27, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did Cannabis happen?

September 18 2018 — 8 years ago, on a Tuesday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints. Panels marked AI-assisted were filled where the sources left a heading empty.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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