In Canada, therapeutic uses of cannabis had been legal since 2008. On 17th October 2018, the country became the second major nation to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes as well. After the passing of the Cannabis Act in the Canadian parliament, it is the provinces and territories of the union which are responsible for formulating specific regulations of cannabis consumption and sales within their jurisdictions. This means that the age of legal marijuana use, retail laws, possession and consumption limits vary from province to province. Being a marijuana user in Canada, you need to know the specific provincial regulations so that you don’t commit an offence. This post will take you through the varied cannabis regulations of all 13 Canadian provinces and territories.    

Canadian cannabis laws – a state-by-state guide

10 provinces and 3 territories constitute the federalist union of Canada. The federal government is responsible for licensing and regulating the cannabis producers and distributors is the responsibility of the federal government. It has also set a few guidelines regarding packaging, promotion and advertisement of all marijuana products which all provinces have to follow. The federal government also puts a ban on cannabis consumption in any vehicles. However, the state governments in the provinces and the territories are free to enact their own laws regulating sales, distribution as well as consumption of cannabis. Below is a state-by-state guide to the provincial cannabis laws of Canada:

Alberta

Legal age of cannabis consumption: 18

Can you grow your own cannabis? Yes. Up to 4 plants each household, subject to sanction from the landlord.

Can you smoke in public? Yes, except areas frequented by children and others places where it is categorically prohibited.

Any home possession limit? No.

Can you buy it from licensed private retailers? Yes.

What about online sale? Only government-operated websites are allowed.

Any special bans or prohibitions? Children are not allowed to enter cannabis stores, even with their parents.

British Columbia

Legal age of cannabis consumption: 19

Can you grow your own cannabis? Yes, but only 4 plants each household and in a place which is not visible to the public. Subject to landlord’s restrictions.

Can you smoke in public? Only in the areas where tobacco can be smoked and especially not in schools, public buildings, health board properties, playgrounds, parks or any areas frequented by kids.

Any home possession limit? 1,000 gms.

Can you buy it from licensed private retailers? Yes.

What about online sale? Only government-operated.

Manitoba

Legal age of cannabis consumption: 19

Can you grow your own cannabis? Not allowed generally. But medical certificate can get you an exception.

Can you smoke in public? No, you can only smoke marijuana in your private residence.

Any home possession limit? No.

Can you buy it from licensed private retailers? Yes.

What about online sale? There are private-owned cannabis websites.

Any special bans or prohibitions? Cannabis retailers are not allowed to sell weed to people impaired by alcohol or other substance uses.

New Brunswick

Legal age of cannabis consumption: 19

Can you grow your own cannabis? Up to 4 plants every household.

Can you smoke in public? No, smoking in public places is banned.

Any home possession limit? No.

Can you buy it from licensed private retailers? No, you can only buy it only from government-operated stores or public retailers licensed by the provincial government.

What about online sale? Only government-operated sites.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Legal age of cannabis consumption: 19

Can you grow your own cannabis? Up to 4 plants every household.

Can you smoke in public? No, you can smoke only in private properties.

Any home possession limit? None.

Can you buy it from licensed private retailers? Yes.

What about online sale? Only government-operated online sales.

Northwest Territories

Legal age of cannabis consumption: 19

Can you grow your own cannabis? Up to 4 plants every household.

Can you smoke in public? Yes. You can also smoke in any trails, roads, highways and parks when they are not being used for public events.

Any home possession limit? None.

Can you buy it from licensed private retailers? Yes. Almost all liquor stores also sell weed.

What about online sale? Government-operated.

Nova Scotia

Legal age of cannabis consumption: 19

Can you grow your own cannabis? Up to 4 plants.

Can you smoke in public? Yes.

Any home possession limit? None.

Can you buy it from licensed private retailers? No, only from government-operated stores.

What about online sale? Only government-operated.

Nunavut

Legal age of cannabis consumption: 19

Can you grow your own cannabis? Yes, up to 4 plants.

Can you smoke in public? Public smoking is illegal.

Any home possession limit? 150 gms.

Can you buy it from licensed private retailers? Yes.

What about online sale? Government-operated.

Ontario

Legal age of cannabis consumption: 19

Can you grow your own cannabis? Up to 4 plants every household.

Can you smoke in public? No, you can smoke only in private properties.

Any home possession limit? None.

Can you buy it from licensed private retailers? Yes.

What about online sale? Government-operated sales.

Prince Edward Island

Legal age of cannabis consumption: 19

Can you grow your own cannabis? Up to 4 plants each household.

Can you smoke in public? No, although there may be some exceptions.  

Any home possession limit? None.

Can you buy it from licensed private retailers? No, you have to buy it from government stores only.

What about online sale? Only government operated.

Quebec

Legal age of cannabis consumption: 18

Can you grow your own cannabis? Not allowed.

Can you smoke in public? Yes.

Any home possession limit? None.

Can you buy it from licensed private retailers? No, only from licensed public retailers and government operated stores.

What about online sale? Only government operated.

Saskatchewan

Legal age of cannabis consumption: 19

Can you grow your own cannabis? Up to 4 plants every household subject to landlord’s permission.

Can you smoke in public? No.

Any home possession limit? None.

Can you buy it from licensed private retailers? Yes.

What about online sale? There are privately-operated websites that sell marijuana.

Any special prohibitions? Cannabis consumption in front of the minors is banned.

Yukon

Legal age of cannabis consumption: 19

Can you grow your own cannabis? Up to 4 plants each household out of public view.

Can you smoke in public? No.

Any home possession limit? None.

Can you buy it from licensed private retailers? No, available only in government-operated stores.

What about online sale? Only government-operated websites can sell marijuana.

The local governments at the provinces and territories, under the Cannabis Act, are permitted to amend their specific cannabis consumption and sales laws. It is therefore important that you know the local regulations before you buy and smoke your weed. Use cannabis legally, and make life a little better!