There are many reasons to love or wish to visit Canada. Its overwhelming natural beauty includes breathtaking mountains and deep blue lakes. Their delicious food—who doesn’t love poutine or great maple syrup? The country is also home to some of the loveliest, most cosmopolitan cities in the entire world, like Vancouver and Toronto.
One thing that sets Canada apart from many countries is its attitude toward marijuana. With the Cannabis Act of 2018, marijuana was essentially made legal throughout the country. However, specific legality is still up to each province or territory.
Whether you’re a local or tourist, it’s vital to understand the specific laws around marijuana in a particular province before purchasing from a Canadian dispensary online.
Alberta
You must be 18 years old to buy and use cannabis in Alberta. You can buy your marijuana only from licensed online and physical stores. Thirty grams is the most you can purchase or carry at a time, but it’s illegal to use it in public places.
Children cannot enter cannabis stores, even when in the company of adults. It is illegal to drive after consumption. Growers are limited to growing a maximum of four plants per household.
British Columbia
British Columbia legalized the non-medical use of cannabis on October 17, 2018. The regulations allow the commercial production and sale of cannabis topicals, extracts, and edibles. You must be 19 years old to sell, buy, or consume cannabis, and adults can possess upwards of 30 grams of cannabis in public places.
The territory prohibits cannabis vaping and smoking anywhere tobacco-smoking is not permitted. You also can’t smoke in vehicles and on school properties, and as is the case in Alberta, growers can plant up to four plants per household.
Manitoba
The legal age for selling, smoking, and buying cannabis in Manitoba is 19. You can only buy from licensed sellers, and adults can only carry up to 30 grams of cannabis at a time.
Consumers can’t drive while high, and you can’t grow cannabis at home here. You also cannot use it in public places.
New Brunswick
In New Brunswick, you must be at least 19 years old to possess, purchase, consume, or cultivate cannabis. It is illegal to consume cannabis in public spaces, and the only legal retailer is Cannabis NB, as of 2021.
Only adults aged 19 years old and above can enter Cannabis NB stores, and carrying 30 grams of cannabis at any one point is not allowed. You can grow up to four plants for personal use in New Brunswick.
Newfoundland and Labrador
If you want to buy, sell, use, or cultivate cannabis in Newfoundland and Labrador, you must be at least 19 years old. You can only purchase marijuana from licensed online or physical stores. The law limits adults to 30 grams of cannabis when carrying it in public.
Northwest Territories
The minimum age to buy, possess, or use cannabis is 19 in the Northwest Territories, and you can only carry up to 30 grams of cannabis on your person in public at any one time. Adults can buy cannabis from most NWT Liquor Stores.
If you want to grow cannabis, you can only plant up to four plants per household, regardless of the number of adults in the home, and you can only use cannabis on private property. It is illegal to use it in public spaces or at events.
Nova Scotia
In Nova Scotia, you must be 19 years old to buy, sell, or use cannabis. You can only use marijuana on private property. Using cannabis in a vehicle, either as a driver or passenger, is illegal. You cannot carry more than 30 grams of cannabis in public, and growers can only have four plants per household.
Nunavut
The legal age of using, selling, or buying cannabis is also 19 in Nunavut. You can purchase cannabis from a government-operated online store or by phone. There are also licensed stores and lounges that sell cannabis. Public possession of cannabis is limited to 30 grams at any one point. The territory allows cultivation, but growers can only plant four plants per household.
Ontario
In Ontario, the minimum age for using, buying, or selling cannabis is 19. You can only smoke and vape cannabis in private residences, public spaces like parks and sidewalks, designated guest rooms, and residential vehicles and boats. It’s illegal to smoke in publicly-owned spaces, vehicles, boats, schools, and hospitals.
Adults can only carry up to 30 grams of dried cannabis in public. Ontario allows the cultivation of cannabis strictly for personal use, and growers have a limit of four plants per residence.
Prince Edward Island
Like most provinces and territories, Prince Edward Island’s legal age for using, selling, or buying cannabis is 19. Adults can also possess up to 30 grams of cannabis in public at any time. Growers have a limit of four plants per household. Its use is restricted to private residences.
Quebec
Quebec has the highest legal age for buying or using cannabis, 21. This became the legal age in 2020, but the legal purchasing age was 18 initially. You can only carry 30 grams of dried cannabis in public, and you can only buy your cannabis from government-operated stores. Growers also have a limit of four plants per household.
Saskatchewan
In Saskatchewan, the minimum age is 19, and the maximum public possession amount is 30 grams. Using it in public places is prohibited for health reasons, and you can’t use it while driving. Cultivation is allowed, but the province limits growers to four plants per household.
Yukon
You must be at least 19 years old to use cannabis in Yukon, and you can only buy up to 30 grams of cannabis per purchase. This is also the maximum public possession amount, and its use is strictly limited to private residences or other locations that permit it. Growing cannabis is allowed, but only if you are growing up to four plants per household.
Understand the Canadian Cannabis Laws
While cannabis is legal throughout Canada, each province and territory has its own laws surrounding the plant. Understanding these unique laws is essential when buying cannabis online or at a local store in Canada. It is essential that you follow the law regarding purchasing, selling, growing, and consuming marijuana.