Canadian Cannabis Laws by Province
On Wednesday, Canada officially legalized recreational marijuana use throughout the entire country! We're sure you're curious about how everything will work, so we've summarized the main details of everything you need to know before you plan your next trip!
Want to read more about Canadian Legalization? Check out our post here.
Want more than a summary of Canada's new laws? Check out the Government's official statements here.
Alberta:
Alberta plans to offer a mix of private and government-run retail stores. Several storefront licenses have been awarded to applicants, but online sales will be run by the provincial government. Like most provinces, questions abound on how many stores will be ready in time. Edmonton currently will have the most stores, while Calgary will have just two shops open when legalization kicks in.
Age: 18
Sales Locations: Private retail stores and government online sales
Smoking Locations: Prohibited in cars, around children, and wherever tobacco is restricted
Possession limit: 30 grams in public, no limits at home
British Columbia:
At the start, British Columbia will have just one government-run shop, which will be located in Kamloops. Private retailers will increase consumer options down the line, while Online sales will be run by the provincial government.
Age: 19
Sales Locations: Private and government retail and online sales
Smoking Locations: Prohibited in cars, around children, and wherever tobacco use is restricted
Possession limit: 30 grams in public, 1,000 grams at home
Manitoba:
It is currently still unclear how many private retail shops will open in Manitoba. The provincial government has stated that Ottawa moved too quickly and didn't allow enough time for provinces to prepare for managing issues ranging from road side tests, federal packaging, excise stamps, online age verification and seed-to-sale verification.
The province maintains it's still on track to meet its goal of having cannabis retail outlets within a 30-minute drive for 90 per cent the population open within two years.
Age:19
Sales Locations: Private retail and online sales
Smoking Locations: Prohibited in public places
Possession limit: 30 grams in public, no limits at home
New Brunswick:
New Brunswick is expecting sales in excess of $45 million in its first year of legalization. The provincially-regulated distributor will be responsible for all pot sales in New Brunswick. It's a subsidiary of the New Brunswick Liquor Corporation. Twenty stores are expected to be open and ready on Oct. 17
Age:19
Sales Locations: Government retail and online sales
Smoking Locations: Private residences only
Possession Limit: 30 grams in public, no limits at home
Newfoundland and Labrador:
The province is expected to have about 30 private retail stores open for legalization. All online sales will be done through the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation.
Age: 19
Sales Locations: Government online and private retail sales
Smoking Locations: Private residences only
Possession Limit: 30 grams in public, no limits at home
Northwest Territories:
Cannabis sales will be run by the Northwest Territories Liquor and Cannabis Commission, though the government has announced that it intends to open the retail market to private entrepreneurs.
Age:19
Sales Locations:Government online and retail sales
Smoking Locations:Permitted in private residences and select public spaces. Prohibited in cars, areas frequented by children, large crowds and nonsmoking areas.
Possession Limit: 30 grams in public, no limits at home
Nunavut:
Nunavut had to find a word for cannabis. The Inuktitut word for weed is ‘surrarnaqtuq’ The territory will sell cannabis online and by phone once it's legal.
Age: 19
Sales Locations: Government online and telephone sales
Smoking Locations: Permitted in private residences and in public spaces where tobacco is permitted. Prohibited in areas frequented by children.
Possession limit: 30 grams in public, no limits at home
Nova Scotia:
Most new cannabis sales in Nova Scotia will take place inside existing liquor stores. Twelve existing Nova Scotia Liquor Commission locations will now have a "store within a store" offering pot sales. One stand alone location in Halifax is expected to be open just in time for official legalization.
Age: 19
Sales Locations: Government online and retail sales
Smoking Locations: Prohibited wherever tobacco is restricted. You can be fined up to $2,000 for a violation.
Possession Limit: 30 grams in public, no limits at home
Ontario:
Canada's most populous province will enter official legalization with plenty of outstanding question marks. The new Progressive Conservative government is introducing legislation which will broaden consumption rules (allowing cannabis to be consumed in most places you can smoke tobacco) and permit for private retail stores. For the time being, the province plans to only sell through the government-run Ontario Cannabis Store. You can expect private retail to be up and running sometime in the spring of 2019.
Age: 19
Sales Locations: Government online sales only until April 1st 2019. Government also promised private retail, but details are TBD.
Smoking Locations: Private residences only. If passed, new legislation will allow consumption wherever tobacco is legal is permitted. Prohibited in areas frequented by children.
Possession Limit: 30 grams in public, no limits at home
Prince Edward Island:
Canada's smallest province will be a national leader in the number of most cannabis stores per capita. PEI Cannabis will open three retail outlets and will sell pot online with another expected to open in November. That would mean four shops for the island's 153,244 residents.
Age: 19
Sales Locations: Government online and retail sales
Smoking Locations: Private residences only
Possession Limit: 30 grams in public, no limits at home
Quebec:
Quebec has historically been known for its relatively liberal laws around beer and wine sales. The province has opted for a government-run retail chain. It plans to have 12 retail outlets open by the start of legalization, while Three more should open by the end of the month.
Like most jurisdictions, Quebec allows consumers to possess up to 30 grams in public. But the province was the only one to cap the amount of pot that someone can have in their own home — at 150 grams.
Quebec was also one of just two provinces — along with Manitoba — to prohibit Canadian citizens from growing plants at home. Everywhere else, you can have up to four plants.
Age: 18
Sales Locations: Government online and retail sales
Smoking Locations: Permitted in private residences and in public places where tobacco is permitted. Prohibited in health and educational institutions and around children.
Possession Limit: 30 grams in public, no more than 150 grams at home
Saskatchewan:
Canadians in Saskatchewan will have to rely solely on the private market for cannabis distribution, whether they are buying online or in person. Dozens of licenses were initially awarded in a lottery and more will be awarded in the coming months. Not all of the licensed stores will be up and running by Oct. 17.
Age: 19
Sales Locations: Private online and retail sales
Smoking Locations: Private residences only
Possession limit: 30 grams
Yukon:
The Yukon Liquor Corporation will begin by opening just one store in Whitehorse. The territory's website says "Yukon's plan is to enable private retail stores to operate under a licensing regime after legalization."
Age: 19
Sales Locations: Government online and retail sales. Private stores will be licensed after legalization.
Smoking Locations: Permitted in private residences and adjoining properties only
Possession limit: 30 grams
What do you think of Canada's new laws? Let us know in the comments!
