Canada banned marijuana in 1923 and it took nearly 80 years for it to be legalized for medicinal use. In 2001, Canada legalized medicinal cannabis.
This is great news for Canadians. But what about foreign visitors? While international travelers can purchase cannabis at a Canada dispensary, it may or may not be permissible to transport such marijuana back to their country of origin.
An Overview of Canadian Cannabis Law
You can generally find marijuana for sale in both private retail shops and government online sites. The Cannabis Act prohibits possession of dried marijuana. The Act defines a gram as equivalent to:
- 1 cannabis plant seed
- 70g of liquid product
- Concentrates 0.25 grams
- 15 grams of edibles
- 5 grams fresh marijuana
It is important to remember legal purchases can only be made at officially recognized shops. You can be charged with a crime if you sell marijuana to a friend. It is also illegal to give cannabis to minors. This can lead to problems due to the differing legal age limits by province.
Anyone found with five or more nanograms of THC in the bloodstream while driving is subject to severe penalties
Canada Marijuana Laws in Each Province
Although certain laws such as possession are the same across all provinces and territories, there are differences in laws, such as legal age, growing laws and smoking restrictions. To avoid legal problems, it is important to be familiar with the laws in your province or territory. Below is a list of Canada’s marijuana laws for each territory and province.
Alberta
- Age limit: 18
- Growing: Up to four active plants is legal
- You can smoke at home or other private residences/properties and in public places where smoking tobacco is permitted. Smoking is not permitted in vehicles or near children.
British Columbia
- Age limit: 19
- Growing: Up to four active plants is legal
- You can smoke at home, private residences, and public places where tobacco products are permitted. However, it is not permitted to be in a vehicle or near children.
Manitoba
- Age limit: 19
- Growing: illegal
- You can only smoke in private areas such as your own home or that of a friend. Manitoba still prohibits the cultivation of marijuana.
New Brunswick
- Age limit: 19
- Growing: You can grow up to four plants legally (outdoor plants must be in a fenced enclosure of at least 1.52m height).
- Smoking is allowed on private residences/properties, subject to landlord restrictions.
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Age limit: 19
- Growing: Up to four active plants is legal
- Smoking is allowed on private residences/properties, subject to landlord restrictions.
Northwest Territories
- Age limit: 19
- Growing: Up to four active plants is legal
- You can smoke in private residences/properties. You can also smoke in public places such as parks, roads and trails as long as there is no ongoing event or children present.
Nova Scotia
- Age limit: 19
- Growing: Up to four active plants is legal
- Smoking is allowed on private residences/properties, subject to landlord restrictions. You can also smoke in public places that allow tobacco.
- Age limit: 19 years old
- Growing: Regulated according to territory
- Smoking is allowed on private residences/properties, subject to landlord restrictions. Nunavut will issue licences for public smoking in cannabis lounges and events.
Ontario
- Age limit: 19
- Growing: Up to four active plants is legal
- You can smoke on private residences/properties and certain public spaces such as streets, parks, and trails as long as there are no children present.
Prince Edward Island
- Age limit: 19
Growing: Up to four active plants is legal
- You can smoke in private residences/properties and certain designated public areas.
Quebec
- Age limit: 21 years old
- Growing: Up to four active plants is legal
- You can smoke on private residences/properties and any public place where tobacco is permitted (barring university campuses). Smoking is not permitted near children.
Saskatchewan
- Age limit: 19
- Growing: Up to four active plants is legal
- Smoking is allowed on private residences/properties, subject to landlord restrictions.
Yukon
- Age limit: 19
- Growing: Up to four active plants is legal
- Smoking is allowed on private residences/properties, subject to landlord restrictions.
Visitors – How the Law Applies to You
Good news! You can legally purchase marijuana in Canada if you’re traveling from the United States. All Canadian laws concerning sale, possession, cultivation and use must be followed. You can buy up to 30g of marijuana and have it consumed in your private home, regardless of where you live in Canada.
Conclusion
Canada’s marijuana laws are much more liberal than those in most other countries. Although you will need to be cautious about where and how much you smoke, adult marijuana users can now grow, purchase, and even order marijuana online.
It is still unknown how Canada’s marijuana laws will change in 2021. There could be changes like more public smoking areas and retail sales of edibles, as well as a higher legal age in Quebec.
Comments are closed.