Politicians herald it as transformative. Residents offer resounding support in the polls. Investors see billions of dollars on the horizon.

When Canada legalizes marijuana on Oct. 17, it will join Uruguay as the only countries to allow recreational cannabis nationwide. The South American country became the first in 2013.

The effort, years in the making, is unlike the piecemeal approaches to marijuana legalization that have been passed in the United States and the Netherlands. For pot proponents around the world, Canada’s implementation of legal marijuana is being closely watched.

Here’s a glimpse at how the country has arrived on the cusp of legalization.

OK, when did this pro-legalization push begin?

It started nearly five years ago as Justin Trudeau campaigned for leadership of his Liberal Party.

“I’m in favor of legalizing it,” Trudeau told supporters in British Columbia in early 2013 when asked about marijuana prohibition. “Tax it, regulate. It’s one of the only ways to keep it out of the hands of our kids, because the current war on drugs, the current model is not working.” [Read more at The Los Angeles Times]