Trudeau Pot Law Sparks Mergers With Last Details Left to Provinces

Canada is set to detail its plans for legalized recreational marijuana, with the industry expecting a rush of mergers as companies seek a national footprint amid a patchwork of different rules in each province.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government will unveil its proposed law as early as this week but is likely to leave many facets -- potentially including distribution and the legal age -- up to individual provinces, as recommended by a federal panel. That suggests Canada’s pot market could be similar to its ad-hoc system of restrictions on the sale and shipment of alcohol.