Canada will be the first G7 nation to legalize cannabis as of October 17th, 2018. Navigating the regulations province by province can get a bit confusing, as every province has different rules and restrictions surrounding cannabis legalization. Let’s take a look at some of the things you’ll need to know before purchasing / using marijuana in Canada once it’s legalized.
Guide to Legal Cannabis in Canada
The federal government laid out the guidelines for cannabis legalization, but each province was ultimately in charge of legislation for their own jurisdiction. This resulted in a confusing and inconsistent set of regulations. We’re going to break it down province by province so you can safely navigate legal cannabis in Canada.
British Columbia (BC)
Possession Limit
- 30 Grams of dried cannabis in public places.
Minimum Age for Possession
- 19 Years old to possess or purchase cannabis.
Cultivation Restrictions
- 4 Plants per household. Cannot be visible from public spaces.
- Landlords and condo councils can restrict or prohibit cultivation / smoking on their properties.
Where to Buy
- Government run wholesale. BC Liquor Distribution Branch.
- BC Cannabis Stores and Government Run Online Sales.
Where to Use
- Anywhere that smoking tobacco is permitted. Exceptions include community beaches, parks, playgrounds and anywhere frequented by children.
Other Important Information
- Cannabis sales are not permitted in stores that sell alcohol or tobacco.
Alberta (AB)
Possession Limit
- 30 Grams of dried cannabis in public places.
Minimum Age for Possession
- 18 Years old to possess or purchase cannabis.
Cultivation Restrictions
- 4 Plants per household.
Where to Buy
- Online through government run retailers.
- Over the counter through privately operated cannabis shops.
Where to Use
- Limited public use. Cannot smoke / vape in areas frequented by children or where smoking tobacco is prohibited.
Other Important Information
- Shops selling cannabis in Alberta cannot sell tobacco or alcohol products. Cannabis shops are solely there to offer cannabis related products.
Saskatchewan (SK)
Possession Limit
- 30 Grams of dried cannabis in public places.
Minimum Age for Possession
- 19 Years old to possess or purchase cannabis.
Cultivation Restrictions
- Unknown. Likely prohibited.
Where to Buy
- Privately run shops regulated by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority.
Where to Use
- Public use is prohibited.
Other Important Information
- Cannabis products cannot have an appearance, shape or other attribute targeting minors.
Manitoba (MB)
Possession Limit
- 30 Grams of dried cannabis in public places.
Minimum Age for Possession
- 19 Years old to possess or purchase cannabis.
Cultivation Restrictions
- Cannabis cultivation is prohibited in Manitoba.
Where to Buy
- Privately run retailers will operate online and offline sales of cannabis.
Where to Use
- Public use is prohibited.
Other Important Information
- Individuals caught driving under the influence of cannabis face fines and suspensions similar to those for alcohol impaired driving.
Ontario (ON)
Possession Limit
- 30 Grams of dried cannabis in public places.
Minimum Age for Possession
- 19 Years old to possess or purchase cannabis.
Cultivation Restrictions
- Unknown.
Where to Buy
- Initially the only place to purchase cannabis in Ontario will be through online retailers. Physical shops won’t be open in Ontario until April 1st, 2019 at the earliest.
Where to Use
- Smoking cannabis is prohibited anywhere that smoking tobacco is prohibited.
Other Important Information
- Online private sales will be run through the Shopify sales platform.
Quebec (QC)
Possession Limit
- 30 Grams of dried cannabis in public places.
Minimum Age for Possession
- 18 Years old to possess or purchase cannabis.
Cultivation Restrictions
- Cannabis cultivation is prohibited in Quebec.
Where to Buy
- Government run online sales. 20 Storefronts are expected to open gradually after legalization throughout Quebec.
Where to Use
- Use in public is limited. Prohibited in enclosed spaces and areas frequented by minors.
Other Important Information
- Estimated revenue for cannabis sales in Quebec is $60,000,000.00 according to the finance minister.
New Brunswick (NB)
Possession Limit
- 30 Grams of dried cannabis in public places.
Minimum Age for Possession
- 19 Years old to possess or purchase cannabis.
Cultivation Restrictions
- Growing cannabis outdoors requires a locked enclosure at least 1.52 m in height.
- Growing cannabis indoors requires a separate locked space.
Where to Buy
- Online or in person from government run locations. All 20 ‘Cannabis NB’ locations are staffed and stocked with product well in advance of the legalization date.
Where to Use
- Unknown.
Other Important Information
- 2% Of gross sales of cannabis in New Brunswick go towards education and awareness surrounding marijuana.
Nova Scotia (NS)
Possession Limit
- 30 Grams of dried cannabis in public places.
Minimum Age for Possession
- 19 Years old to possess or purchase cannabis.
Cultivation Restrictions
- 4 Plants per household.
Where to Buy
- Online or in person from government run locations.
Where to Use
- Cannot use cannabis anywhere that tobacco is prohibited.
- Landlords can prohibit cannabis use on the property with a four month notice to tenants prior to April 30th 2019.
Other Important Information
- There are 9 retail cannabis locations in Nova Scotia.
Prince Edward Island (PEI)
Possession Limit
- 30 Grams of dried cannabis in public places.
Minimum Age for Possession
- 19 Years old to possess or purchase cannabis.
Cultivation Restrictions
- 4 Plants per household assuming they’re not accessible by minors.
Where to Buy
- Online or in person from government run retailers.
Where to Use
- Cannot consume cannabis in public with exceptions surrounding certain designated spaces.
Other Important Information
- There are 4 retail locations that sell cannabis in Prince Edward Island.
Newfoundland (NL)
Possession Limit
- 30 Grams of dried cannabis in public places.
Minimum Age for Possession
- 19 Years old to possess or purchase cannabis.
Cultivation Restrictions
- 4 Plants per household.
Where to Buy
- Private and government retailers. Private retailers are regulated by Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation.
Where to Use
- Unknown.
Other Important Information
- Cannabis or cannabis accessories cannot be displayed, advertised or promoted online, or on the exterior of a retail location.
Yukon Territory (YK)
Possession Limit
- 30 Grams of dried cannabis in public places.
Minimum Age for Possession
- 19 Years old to possess or purchase cannabis.
Cultivation Restrictions
- 4 Plants per household.
Where to Buy
- One government run store in Whitehorse. Online via the Shopify platform. Private sales can begin 6-months after legalization.
Where to Use
- Cannot use cannabis in public.
Other Important Information
- Private retailers cannot operate until 6-months after legalization in the Yukon.
Northwest Territories (NT)
Possession Limit
- 30 Grams of dried cannabis in public places.
Minimum Age for Possession
- 19 Years old to possess or purchase cannabis.
Cultivation Restrictions
- Unknown.
Where to Buy
- Government run as well as privately operated retailers. Online sales are still unknown.
Where to Use
- Regulations surrounding public use of cannabis in Northwest Territories is expected to be introduced 6-months after legalization.
Other Important Information
- Cannabis in Northwest Territories is regulated by the Liquor Commission.
Nunavut (NU)
Possession Limit
- 30 Grams of dried cannabis in public places.
Minimum Age for Possession
- 19 Years old to possess or purchase cannabis.
Cultivation Restrictions
- Prohibited at the moment.
Where to Buy
- Through government as well as private retailers acting as an agency for the government. Online sales are also available in Nunavut.
Where to Use
- Unknown.
Other Important Information
- Cannabis in Nunavut is regulated by the Liquor and Cannabis Commission.
Traveling to the US After Legalization
Another thing to keep in mind after legalization in Canada goes into full effect is the fact that cannabis is still federally illegal in the United States. As a Canadian traveling to the US you’ll need to keep this in mind.
There’s been a fair bit of confusion surrounding who exactly will this will affect, but border services have recently cleared it up. Employees of cannabis companies, as well as stockholders shouldn’t have an issue crossing the border, assuming they’re not traveling to the US to work or aid in the cannabis industry in the US.
Attempting to transport cannabis across the border is strictly prohibited. Past drug history is still ground to be denied entry into the US as well.
The best course of action is to not give border agents any signals that you may have used marijuana in the past. Avoiding the conversation altogether is your best bet, if you lie you may be barred for life from entering the US.
You may want to avoid traveling to the United States if you’re an avid cannabis user, at least until they catch up and legalize it as well.
*More information surrounding cannabis legalization in Canada can be found on the Canadian Center on Substance Use and Addiction‘s website.
