Hundreds of Canadians have taken to the streets to celebrate the legalization of recreational marijuana following a nearly century-long ban.

Canada officially became the first industrialized nation to legalize the drug on Wednesday following a two-year push by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government, which hopes to bring dealers out of the black market and into a regulated system.

Cannabis connoisseurs appear to have embraced the new system as massive queues formed outside many of the 111 legal pot shops now open around the country.

Eager consumers were pictured spewing smoke on the sidewalks, using up products almost certainly purchased on the black market as they waited to get their hands on the legal version.

Celebrations are being held across Canada on Wednesday following the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. Cannabis connoisseurs are seen parading through Montreal with a Canadian flag bearing a pot leaf in place of a maple one.


A man fights the frigid weather by dancing on the sidewalk as he waits in line to purchase legal cannabis at a store in Montreal.

Hundreds of cannabis-loving Canadians lined up to get their hands on legal marijuana at over 100 stores across the nation.





Man smokes a joint next to a sign marking the end of more than a century of marijuana prohibition in the northern nation.


Dan Thompson (left) and her partner, Nick Frankruyter, share a joint on the day at Trinity Bellwoods Park, in Toronto, Ontario.

Krissy Calkins takes a puff from a patriotic Canadian flag-themed joint at a legalized marijuana event in Toronto

Toronto police launched a public awareness campaign Wednesday to remind people to stop calling authorities to snitch on their neighbors' marijuana use now that its legal. Two snarky tweets from the police force are shown.


Massive queues formed overnight in cities across Canada as marijuana became legal under federal law at midnight.

Canopy Growth CEO Bruce Linton applauds after handing Ian Power and Nikki Rose, who were first in line to purchase the first legal recreational marijuana after midnight, their purchases at the Tweed retail store in St John's.


A man checks out his purchase outside the Quebec Cannabis Society (SQDC) store in Montreal on Wednesday morning

A man smokes from a glass bong as he waits in line to purchase legal cannabis outside a government store in Montreal


A woman and her baby pose for a photo.

A customer smiles excitedly as he exits a Natural Vibe store in St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, on Wednesday.

Stephanie Warkentin, left, and Robert MacNeil, check over their cannabis purchases at the retail store in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, Wednesday.

Cannabis joints rolled with Canadian themed paper are photographed at the 'Wake and Bake' event in Toronto on Wednesday.


An employee packs purchases into a shopping bag after the first legal recreational marijuana sale after midnight at a Tweed retail store in St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.