Canada is about to embark on something so new that every branch of the government and facet of society will have to learn how to deal with it. Cannabis is just over two weeks away from coming out of the shadows and into the mainstream.

October 17th is the day that it all changes and there are many who are excited, others who are worried and then those like Moose Jaw Police Chief Rick Bourassa who believes nothing will really change in our day to day lives.

"I'm cautiously optimist," said Bourassa. "It takes a bit of time to become really familiar with it but we're optimistic that people will behave responsibly and that we will move forward fairly seamlessly."

Bourassa might seem a little more interested than most when it comes to the new laws since he had a hand in the process. He was one of the members of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police who were asked to inform that discussion on a federal level. Chief Bourassa says it's been an interesting process especially when you consider all officers currently on duty have gone through training that has told them that drugs are bad and anyone possessing them should be arrested.

With that said, it definitely won't be a free for all on October 17th. There will be rules that need to be followed and many expect the letter of the law to be applied to set a standard across the country. Others in the industry feel a softer approach will be applied.

"A couple of key points are that people are only authorized to possess 30 grams of dried cannabis product and that product cannot be used in a public place," explained Bourassa who went on to say that cannabis must be transported from a place where it is lawfully purchased to a place where it can be lawfully consumed.

Impaired driving is a major concern ahead of the change and SGI is trying to get that message across at every opportunity. Billboards, Internet, television and radio commercials are being used to get the message across. Minister Responsible Joe Hargrave announced in August that its "important for people to remember that in Saskatchewan it is currently and will continue to be illegal to drive while impaired – whether by drugs or alcohol.”